Islamabad, March 10 (IANS) A global alliance of civil society organisations and activists, working to strengthen citizen action and civil society throughout the world, has expressed serious concerns regarding the exercise of civic freedom in Pakistan in its latest report released on Monday.
Adding Pakistan to its monitor watchlist, Civicus highlighted the escalating criminalisation of human rights defenders and journalists, crackdown on human rights movements and protests and digital restrictions in the country.
As per Civicus monitor’s human rights watchlist 2025, Pakistan’s status has now been classified as “repressed” which means that the civic space in the country is significantly constrained.
“Pakistan’s recent criminalisation of activists, stifling of opposition and minority protests, and digital space restrictions have resulted in the county being added to the Civicus Monitor watchlist,” the organisation stated.
In its report, Civicus highlighted the struggles of Baloch human rights activist Mahrang Baloch, leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee and human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir.
“In October 2024, the authorities targeted prominent human rights defender and Baloch leader, Dr. Mahrang Baloch who is facing baseless allegations of aiding separatist groups. The case comes just days after Baloch was prevented from boarding a flight abroad alongside fellow activist Sammi Deen Baloch,” the report mentions.
“In the same month, human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband were also charged with ‘acts of terrorism’. Human rights defender Idris Khattak has spent five years in detention now, as a reprisal for his work, while the government has banned the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), which has mobilised nationwide against human rights violations against the Pashtun people,” it added.
Civicus also highlighted the Anti-Terrorism Act, used by the current Pakistani regime to impose a ban on Pashtun Tahafuz Movement during the year 2024, terming charges, actions and assaults against human rights activists, lawyers and other parties as part of a political witch-hunt.
“The Karachi police initiated a crackdown around the Sindh Rawadari March in Karachi in October 2024 and ahead of a peaceful demonstration of ethnic Baloch people in Sindh province in January 2025,” it mentions.
The report also noted the targeting of journalists under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for being accused of spreading false narratives against state institutions.
“The crackdown on protests by the opposition and ethnic minority groups and the targeting of journalists and digital restrictions are inconsistent with Pakistan’s International human rights obligations. They also go against the recommendations made by the UN Human Rights Committee”, Civicus stated.
–IANS
int/hamza/as
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by BhaskarLive.in and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of BhaskarLive.in We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, BhaskarLive.in takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.
Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.
If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.
