PAKISTAN’S Foreign Affairs promptly rejected the US Department of State’s 120-page “2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Pakistan” without acknowledging its comprehensive compilation process where the source of almost all necessary data rests in Pakistan. The compilation involves gathering data from embassy and consulate reports, local NGOs, media coverage, government agencies, international organizations, academic institutions, testimonies, diplomatic channels, official government reports and open-source intelligence. The report aims to provide a thorough and accurate assessment of human rights conditions in Pakistan indicating a failure to address shortcomings.
Rather than addressing issues and implementing reforms, Pakistan tends to respond with generic statements disconnected from reality which is short-sighted, as baseless rejection only draws more attention to the report’s contents, prompting further scrutiny. Pakistan’s tendency to ignore issues and reject criticism perpetuates poor human rights practices rather than fostering improvement.
“There is nothing in the report that has not been discussed almost on a daily basis by our courts, political parties, civil society and both traditional and social media. Our media and civil society, day in and day out, in their reports, comment and analyse, discuss, refer to and quote, rightly or wrongly, all those issues, matters and incidents which were referred to in the report. These include unlawful or arbitrary detention and killings, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and cases of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by the government or non state actors.” “They discuss harsh and life-threatening prison conditions, political prisoners, arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy, punishment of family members for alleged offenses by relative and serious abuses in conflict, including reportedly unlawful civilian deaths and enforced disappearances.
The elite journalists and opposition political parties have raised concerns about significant restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom. These include violence against journalists, unjustified arrests, and disappearances of journalists, as well as censorship and serious constraints on internet freedom. Additionally, there are substantial interferences with the freedom of peaceful assembly and association, including overly restrictive laws governing the operation of non-governmental organizations and civil society groups.
The media and civil society have been vocal about issues such as restrictions on religious freedom, coerced or forced returns of individuals to countries where they may face torture or persecution, government corruption, and government restrictions on both domestic and international human rights organizations. They have also highlighted extensive gender-based violence, including domestic or intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and child and early forced marriage.
Media reports also suggest physical abuse of criminal suspects in custody, leading to injuries or deaths. Besides, lengthy trial delays at both the commencement and conclusion of trials, along with the failure to adequately investigate, discipline, and prosecute those responsible for killings, have contributed to a culture of impunity. Our media is full of reports that there is a significant increase in attacks against police and security forces. According to the independent think tank Centre for Research and Security Studies, there were at least 386 reported deaths of police and military personnel in terrorist attacks and counter-terror operations during the first three quarters of the year. The number of attacks and casualties were higher than in 2022 or 2021.
However, they may not realize that these commentaries and analyses are being recorded, compiled, and reported upon by human rights watchdogs around the world, including those in the US reflecting negatively on our human rights record.” The impugned report comprehensively catalogued a multitude of incidents, events, and statements with detailed dates, names, and qualifications forming its foundation. Noteworthy examples include the killing of seven Shia Muslims, including four teachers, in Upper Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on May 4, apparently in retaliation for the earlier killing of a Sunni Muslim, a suicide bombing in Mastung, Balochistan, on September 29, which claimed the lives of at least 60 individuals during a religious procession and an attack by Tehreek-e-Jihad on Pakistan Air Force Training Base M.M. Alam in Mianwali, Punjab, resulting in the death of nine militant attacks on November 4.
Ironically, instead of addressing these issues, there was a tendency to blame rating agencies for using inaccurate data, ignoring the fact that much of the data originates from within our own country, often from government sources. During my tenure as Joint Secretary, I compiled a comprehensive report on all international ratings, rankings and indexes, revealing a dismal picture of our nation’s neglect, lethargy, aimless governance, and widespread lawlessness. It underscored the multitude of challenges we faced, including multiple power centres, injustice, economic stagnation, and social degradation.
Surprisingly, the government’s acknowledgment of my report’s significance led to the Prime Minister and other officials directing the development of a comprehensive plan to boost international ratings. I meticulously crafted this strategy, which was then shared with top government echelons. However, fate intervened, and the government dissolved before substantial progress could be achieved. This recurring pattern mirrors Pakistan’s history, where promising reform efforts often succumb to political instability, leaving essential changes unimplemented and reforms stagnant.
It is crucial that reports from entities such as the US Department of State reflecting our national performance undergo thorough review by relevant committees in the National Assembly and Senate. These committees should meticulously scrutinize the reports, identifying any inaccuracies and communicating them to rating agencies for clarification or correction. Additionally, establishing robust collaboration with rating agencies’ focal persons in Pakistan is essential to provide accurate data, ensuring the integrity of subsequent reports. If the data and analysis are verified, the committees should develop a comprehensive plan to address highlighted shortcomings. Instead of deflecting blame, we must courageously acknowledge and address the reflections presented, striving for an accurate portrayal of our nation’s status. This approach fosters accountability and enables proactive measures to enhance our national performance and reputation.
—The writer is a former Press Secretary to the President.
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