In its flagship annual report State of Human Rights in 2022, released earlier on Wednesday, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concern over the political and economic turmoil of last year, both of which have had a serious impact on the human rights situation.
Both the incumbent and previous governments failed to respect the supremacy of Parliament, while tussles among the legislature, executive and judiciary undermined institutional credibility. The report notes that political victimisation continued throughout the year, with colonial-era sedition laws being weaponised to stifle dissent.
Dozens of journalists and opposition politicians were arrested, with ensuing claims of custodial torture—ironically in the same year that the Parliament passed a bill criminalising the use of torture.
The agitation that followed the successful vote of no-confidence against former Prime Minister Imran Khan saw law enforcement personnel clash with protesters in various parts of the country, with the right to freedom of assembly being violated but also abused. The year saw an alarming resurgence in terror attacks—the highest in five years, with 533 lives lost.—NNI
