The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Monday launched its annual report, State of Human Rights in 2025, painting a troubling picture of shrinking civic space, mounting pressure on judicial independence, and worsening security challenges across Pakistan.
The report describes 2025 as a year marked by a severe contraction of democratic freedoms, warning that the right to freedom of expression—particularly the ability to question authority and demand accountability—came under unprecedented strain, with serious implications for the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights.
According to HRCP, legal and institutional mechanisms were increasingly employed to suppress dissent. Amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), coupled with the use of sedition and anti-terrorism laws resulted in the widespread targeting of journalists, political workers, rights activists, and members of the legal fraternity. The report also cites incidents of intimidation, enforced disappearances, and restrictions on movement that created an atmosphere of fear, self-censorship, and reduced public scrutiny of rights violations.
The report expresses grave concern over amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 at both federal and Balochistan levels, which expanded the powers of law enforcement agencies and the armed forces by allowing detention of individuals for up to three months without formal charges or judicial oversight. The HRCP warned that such provisions pose serious risks to personal liberty, due process, and protection from arbitrary detention.
The report was formally presented by HRCP Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt, former chairperson Hina Jilani, co-chair Munizae Jahangir, vice-chair Nasreen Azhar, and secretary-general Harris Khalique, who also answered questions from journalists following the launch.
A major focus of the report is what HRCP describes as a significant deterioration in judicial independence following the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which it says altered the judicial appointments process and increased executive influence over the judiciary. The commission also raised concerns over key judicial decisions during the year, including rulings enabling military trials of civilians and judgments affecting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which it said further narrowed democratic space.
Security-related challenges continued to compound rights violations, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where militancy and counterterrorism operations resulted in heavy civilian.
