HUMAN RIGHTS IN PAKISTAN
- Human rightsThe situation of human rights in Pakistan is complex as a result of the country's diversity, large population, its status as a developing country and a sovereign, Islamic republic as well as an Islamic democracy with a mixture of both Islamic and secular laws. The Constitution of Pakistan provides for fundamental rights, which include freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of information, freedom of religion, freedom of association, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and the (conditional) right to bear arms. The Clauses also provide for an independent Supreme Court, separation of executive and judiciary, an independent judiciary, independent Human Rights commission and freedom of movement within the country and abroad. However it is debatable how much these clauses are respected in practice.
Khawaja Nazimuddin, the
2nd Prime Minister of Pakistan stated: "I do not agree that religion is a private affair of the individual nor do I agree that in an Islamic state every citizen has identical rights, no matter what his caste, creed or faith be".
[1] Though the Constitution includes adequate accommodation for Pakistan’s religious minorities, in practice non-
Sunni Muslims face
religious discrimination in both the public and private spheres (for example – non Muslims cannot hold any of the top positions in the country's government and non-Muslims have restrictions placed on which candidates they may cast their vote for). In response to rising sectarian and religious violence, the Pakistani government has unveiled several high-profile efforts to reduce tension and support religious pluralism, giving new authority to the
National Commission for Minorities and creating a
Minister for Minority Affairs post. Nonetheless, religious violence is still common throughout Pakistan.
Ahmadis,
Hindus,
Sikhs,
Christians, and
Zoroastrians, face violence, intimidation, as well as periodic charges of blasphemy, which carries a death penalty.
[2] [3] Other than the above religious minorities, attacks against
Shia Muslims, who make up between 5–20%
[4][5] of Pakistani Muslims, have also become commonplace.
[6][7]
Although Pakistan was created to uphold the principles of democracy,
military coups in Pakistan are commonplace, and for most of its history after independence has been ruled by military dictators who declare themselves president. The
Pakistani general election, 2013 were the first elections in the country where there was a constitutional transfer of power from one civilian government to another.
[7] Elections in Pakistan although being partially free, are rife with irregularities including but not limited to
vote rigging, use of threats and
coercion, discrimination between Muslim and non-Muslim and many other violations.
[7][8][9] Additionally the
Government of Pakistan has itself admitted on several occasions that it has absolutely no control over the
Military of Pakistan and related security agencies.
[10][11] In 2010,
Foreign Policy ranked Pakistan as number ten on its Failed States Index, in which Pakistan consistently figures near the top, placing it in the "critical" category with such other failed or failing states as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia.
[11][12]
Domestic violence in Pakistan is an endemic social problem. According to a study carried out in 2009 by
Human Rights Watch, it is estimated that between 70 and 90 percent of women and girls in Pakistan have suffered some form of abuse.
[13] An estimated 5000 women are killed per year from domestic violence, with thousands of others maimed or disabled.
[14] The majority of victims of violence have no legal recourse.
Law enforcement authorities do not view domestic violence as a
crime and usually refuse to register any cases brought to them. Given the very few
women's shelters in the country, victims have limited ability to escape from violent situations.
[14]
In general
Freedom of the press is allowed but any reports critical of the government policy or critical of the military is censored. Journalists face widespread threats and violence making Pakistan one of the worst countries to be a journalist in, with 61 being killed since September 2001 and at least 6 murdered in 2013 alone.
[15][16] Tv stations and news papers are routinely shut down for publishing any reports critical of the government or the military.
[17][18][19]
In May 2012, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the National Commission for Human Rights Bill 2012 for the promotion of the protection of human rights in the country.[20] However, it remains to be seen if any positive effects will be derived from this in Pakistan
The situation of human rights in
Pakistan is complex as a result of the country's diversity, large population, its status as a developing country and a sovereign, Islamic republic as well as an Islamic democracy with a mixture of both Islamic and secular laws. The Constitution of Pakistan provides for fundamental rights, which include freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of information, freedom of religion, freedom of association, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and the (conditional) right to bear arms. The Clauses also provide for an independent Supreme Court, separation of executive and judiciary, an independent judiciary, independent Human Rights commission and freedom of movement within the country and abroad. However it is debatable how much these clauses are respected in practice.
Khawaja Nazimuddin, the
2nd Prime Minister of Pakistan stated: "I do not agree that religion is a private affair of the individual nor do I agree that in an Islamic state every citizen has identical rights, no matter what his caste, creed or faith be".
[1] Though the Constitution includes adequate accommodation for Pakistan’s religious minorities, in practice non-
Sunni Muslims face
religious discrimination in both the public and private spheres (for example – non Muslims cannot hold any of the top positions in the country's government and non-Muslims have restrictions placed on which candidates they may cast their vote for). In response to rising sectarian and religious violence, the Pakistani government has unveiled several high-profile efforts to reduce tension and support religious pluralism, giving new authority to the
National Commission for Minorities and creating a
Minister for Minority Affairs post. Nonetheless, religious violence is still common throughout Pakistan.
Ahmadis,
Hindus,
Sikhs,
Christians, and
Zoroastrians, face violence, intimidation, as well as periodic charges of blasphemy, which carries a death penalty.
[2] [3] Other than the above religious minorities, attacks against
Shia Muslims, who make up between 5–20%
[4][5] of Pakistani Muslims, have also become commonplace.
[6][7]
Although Pakistan was created to uphold the principles of democracy,
military coups in Pakistan are commonplace, and for most of its history after independence has been ruled by military dictators who declare themselves president. The
Pakistani general election, 2013 were the first elections in the country where there was a constitutional transfer of power from one civilian government to another.
[7] Elections in Pakistan although being partially free, are rife with irregularities including but not limited to
vote rigging, use of threats and
coercion, discrimination between Muslim and non-Muslim and many other violations.
[7][8][9] Additionally the
Government of Pakistan has itself admitted on several occasions that it has absolutely no control over the
Military of Pakistan and related security agencies.
[10][11] In 2010,
Foreign Policy ranked Pakistan as number ten on its Failed States Index, in which Pakistan consistently figures near the top, placing it in the "critical" category with such other failed or failing states as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia.
[11][12]
Domestic violence in Pakistan is an endemic social problem. According to a study carried out in 2009 by
Human Rights Watch, it is estimated that between 70 and 90 percent of women and girls in Pakistan have suffered some form of abuse.
[13] An estimated 5000 women are killed per year from domestic violence, with thousands of others maimed or disabled.
[14] The majority of victims of violence have no legal recourse.
Law enforcement authorities do not view domestic violence as a
crime and usually refuse to register any cases brought to them. Given the very few
women's shelters in the country, victims have limited ability to escape from violent situations.
[14]
In general
Freedom of the press is allowed but any reports critical of the government policy or critical of the military is censored. Journalists face widespread threats and violence making Pakistan one of the worst countries to be a journalist in, with 61 being killed since September 2001 and at least 6 murdered in 2013 alone.
[15][16] Tv stations and news papers are routinely shut down for publishing any reports critical of the government or the military.
[17][18][19]
In May 2012, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the National Commission for Human Rights Bill 2012 for the promotion of the protection of human rights in the country.
[20] However, it remains to be seen if any positive effects will be derived from this
