Pakistan
In early 2026, human rights in Pakistan remain under intense international scrutiny. Recent reports from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International highlight a significant tightening of civil liberties, often justified by national security concerns or religious sensitivities.
The following are the primary human rights issues currently facing the country:
1. Freedom of Expression and Press
Authorities have intensified a crackdown on dissent, using "cyber-terrorism" and defamation laws to muzzle journalists and activists.
Media Suppression: Journalists face harassment, arbitrary arrests, and enforced disappearances. In 2025, several journalists were killed, and others—like Asad Toor and Ahmad Farhad—faced legal battles for critical reporting.+1
Digital Restrictions: The government frequently implements internet shutdowns and blocks social media platforms (like X) during times of political unrest or "virtual rallies" by opposition parties.
Draconian Laws: The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the Punjab Defamation Act (2024) are widely criticized for their vague definitions, allowing the state to criminalize online speech.
2. Religious Freedom and Blasphemy Laws
Pakistan’s blasphemy laws continue to be a source of significant human rights violations, often leading to mob violence.
Mob Violence: Accusations of blasphemy frequently trigger vigilante justice. Recent years have seen lynchings of individuals accused of desecrating the Quran, sometimes with minimal police intervention.
Persecution of Minorities: The Ahmadiyya community remains constitutionally and legally marginalized, facing frequent attacks on their places of worship and graveyards. Christians and Hindus also report forced conversions and marriages of underage girls.
Procedural Misuse: While the government has discussed "procedural safeguards," the laws are still used to settle personal scores or seize land.
3. Judicial Independence and Rule of Law
Recent legislative changes have raised alarms about the separation of powers.
Constitutional Amendments: The 26th and 27th Amendments (passed in late 2024 and early 2025) have been criticized by the UN and legal experts for undermining judicial independence by giving the executive more control over judicial appointments.
Military Courts: The trial of civilians in military courts following political protests (specifically those in May 2023) remains a major point of contention, as it bypasses the standard due process of the civilian justice system.
4. Enforced Disappearances
A "culture of impunity" persists regarding enforced disappearances, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Activists, students, and political opponents are frequently abducted by security forces without charge or trial.
The Baloch National Gathering and other ethnic rights movements (like the PTM) have faced violent crackdowns, with leaders placed on terrorist watchlists or detained indefinitely.
5. Women’s and Children's Rights
Despite legislative efforts, enforcement remains weak in many regions.
Gender-Based Violence: Domestic violence, "honor killings," and child marriage remain widespread. Millions of girls remain out of school, with militant groups occasionally targeting girls' educational institutions in rural areas.
Labor Rights: Low-wage workers, particularly in the garment and mining sectors, are often denied the right to unionize and work in hazardous conditions.
6. Refugee Crisis
Since late 2023, Pakistan has engaged in a massive campaign to deport Afghan refugees.
Over half a million Afghans—some who have lived in Pakistan for decades—have been forced back into Afghanistan, often facing harassment, property confiscation, and violence during the process.