Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Pakistan are currently enduring one of the most challenging periods in the country’s history. Any CSO that advocates for human rights or raises awareness about the constitutional safeguards guaranteed by Pakistan’s supreme law — the constitution — is likely to face harassment and intimidation.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is one such organisation that has worked tirelessly to promote human rights in Pakistan for nearly four decades. Founded during the oppressive era of General Ziaul Haq’s military dictatorship in 1986, the HRCP owes much of its inception to the efforts of Asma Jahangir.
She was supported by a host of stalwarts in Pakistan’s civil society, including Afrasiab Khattak, Dr Mehdi Hasan, Dr Mubashir Hasan, Hina Jilani, Hussain Naqi, I A Rehman, Iqbal Haider, Justices Dorab Patel and Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, among others — all of whom had unblemished personal and professional records.
The HRCP has remained an independent, non-political and non-profit body. Its scope spans a wide range of civil, cultural, economic and political rights. Through regular fact-finding missions and in-depth research, it consistently monitors and documents human rights conditions across the country.
It operates strictly within the constitutional framework of Pakistan, raising its voice wherever necessary to defend fundamental freedoms. It also aligns its work with international human rights conventions and treaties that Pakistan is obligated to uphold.
Now nearing its 80th year as an independent state, Pakistan should have the confidence and maturity to support institutions and individuals working for the public good. However, increasing marginalisation and systemic discrimination against vulnerable communities have put immense strain on national unity. Widening class disparities have left nearly half of the population uncertain about their next meal. The HRCP brings attention to these pressing issues, ensuring that the state stays informed — not just about what happens at the borders, but also within the daily lives of citizens across the country.
Whether addressing gender and racial discrimination, religious and sectarian divides, ethnic conflict, disability rights or sexual orientation, the HRCP seeks to be the voice of the voiceless. Or, as Arundhati Roy puts it, it gives voice to those whose voices have been systematically suppressed by the powerful.
In Pakistan, exclusion is widespread, making vulnerable communities even more marginalised. The HRCP stands with children, farmers, religious minorities and survivors of abuse. Its State of Human Rights annual reports are among the most credible and comprehensive assessments of rights and freedoms in the country, respected both nationally and internationally.
The HRCP also publishes a monthly Urdu newsletter, Jehd-e-Haq, which reaches thousands of readers in both print and digital formats. Few other human rights organisations in Pakistan maintain operational offices in eight cities — from Gilgit to Karachi. Across dozens of districts, hundreds of volunteers dedicate their time and energy to keeping the HRCP informed. Hundreds more active members proudly associate themselves with this vital watchdog.
Internationally, the HRCP is a founding member of South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) and an active participant in the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). It is also affiliated with global networks such as the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, and the Global Network of Democratic Election Monitors.
Since 2010, the HRCP has held special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. Its council members, including Asma Jahangir and Hina Jilani, have served as UN Special Rapporteurs and representatives on key human rights panels for Palestine and Sri Lanka.
However, there have recently been concerns regarding attempts to restrict the commission’s work.
The HRCP has long expressed alarm over the increasingly hostile environment for human rights defenders in Pakistan. As a life member of the HRCP, I have personally witnessed a series of arbitrary and unlawful actions that obstruct the organisation’s ability to fulfil its mandate. While CSOs have always been monitored here, recent overreach has intensified. Individuals claiming to represent various agencies have disrupted HRCP events, often demanding a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) even for indoor meetings.
This is unprecedented. There has never been a legal requirement for NOCs for indoor gatherings, yet suddenly such demands have become routine. Pakistan may be one of the few countries where citizens are routinely asked for NOCs and photocopies of identity cards, often submitting hundreds over a lifetime. Now, this bureaucratic red tape — more nuisance than necessity — is being weaponised.
HRCP officials have even appeared on national television to condemn the harassment. A high-level consultation in Islamabad on militancy and terrorism’s impact on human rights had to be cancelled. Similarly, a roundtable in Gilgit on local communities’ rights to natural resources was also obstructed. Government departments and local legislators had confirmed their participation in both events.
Across Pakistan, HRCP staff and members have repeatedly faced harassment. In 2024, the HRCP’s head office had its electricity meter removed, and a bank froze the HRCP’s account, citing a State Bank directive — only to later deny the existence of any such instruction when taken to court.
The state must respect the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of assembly, association, expression and movement. The limited number of human rights defenders in Pakistan must be allowed to work without fear or interference. The undue obstruction of CSOs reflects a troubling paranoia that pervades the corridors of power. As Pakistan nears its 80th anniversary, it is high time its institutions began upholding the rights of all citizens and organisations.
All nations should prioritise the well-being of their people. A tolerant and inclusive society must be the ultimate goal. At present, exclusion is rampant; what we need is greater inclusion and justice.
The HRCP’s work deserves recognition. Its 2024 report, for example, highlights the erosion of democratic standards and rule of law. The state likely finds such critiques uncomfortable, especially when the HRCP draws attention to the weakening of parliamentary institutions or the deteriorating security situation in regions like Kurram.
The HRCP has also condemned prolonged road closures and supply disruptions that have led to humanitarian crises. It’s call for more civic freedoms, better governance and improved law and order is timely and essential. Civil society organisations play a vital role in ensuring Pakistan’s political and social stability, and they must be allowed to operate without undue restrictions.
The HRCP has been vocal about the dangerous misuse of blasphemy accusations that lead to mob violence and vigilantism. It is precisely this brave, principled stance that makes the HRCP so essential.
The government and the state would do well to keep their hands off the HRCP. Suppressing dissent and silencing watchdogs will only create a suffocating silence. That is the last thing this country needs or deserves.
The writer holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham, UK. He posts @NaazirMahmood and can be reached at: [email protected]
Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed in this piece are the writer’s own and don’t necessarily reflect Geo.tv’s editorial policy.
Originally published in The News
