Latest news with #HumanRightsCommissionofPakistan
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Bill to curb child marriage becomes law
President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday signed the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill into law, setting the minimum age for marriage at 18 years. The new legislation criminalises the solemnisation of marriages where either the boy or girl is underage. HRCP slams CII The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has strongly criticised the CII for raising objections to the recently passed Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, calling the move a serious attempt to hinder vital child protection legislation. It expressed deep concern over the CII's stance, which challenges the bill that sets 18 years as the minimum legal age for marriage and criminalizes child marriage in the federal capital. "The bill establishes a long-overdue legal standard in Pakistan and aligns with both constitutional guarantees and international human rights commitments," the HRCP stated.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
A tool of suppression
Listen to article Laws are meant to be scrutinised - especially when they begin to encroach upon the very freedoms they are supposed to protect. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's latest report on the PECA Act 2025 offers a much-needed critical lens on a law that has become a potent tool of suppression rather than protection. PECA, in its current form and through its iterations since 2016, has consistently empowered the state at the expense of individual liberties. Its criminalisation of vague categories such as "fake and false information" — punishable by up to three-year imprisonment — opens the door to arbitrary interpretation and misuse. Instead of combating genuine cybercrime, the law has increasingly been wielded to stifle dissent and as a muzzling tactic. This is not an isolated case. PECA is part of a growing pattern of repressive legal frameworks that aim to curtail civic spaces in Pakistan. Additionally, PECA introduces a regulatory authority, complaints council and tribunal — all operating under considerable executive influence. While oversight is necessary in any legal process, the concentration of power in a few hands raises concerns about fairness and impartiality. Such laws tend to erode the foundations of democracy by criminalising criticism and silencing voices. The HRCP's call for the law's repeal is both timely and necessary. It is a reminder that no law should be above public scrutiny — especially one that so deeply affects the fundamental rights of citizens. Rather than discarding the law altogether, a more balanced approach could involve revisiting and refining PECA. Clearer definitions and better oversight mechanisms would go a long way in aligning the law with its original intent. Constructive reform, grounded in consultation with civil society, may be the best way forward.
Express Tribune
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
HRCP slams discriminatory ban on Ismaili Butchers in Chitral, warns of threat to pluralism
Listen to article The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has voiced serious concern over what it describes as sectarian discrimination in Chitral, following a decision by the local administration in Garam Chashma to prohibit Ismaili butchers from supplying meat in the area. In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, the HRCP condemned the move as a violation of the constitutional principle of equal economic opportunity for all citizens, regardless of sectarian affiliation. The commission noted that the region has long been admired for its tradition of inter-communal harmony and warned that such one-sided measures risk inflaming sectarian tensions and inciting violence. "Undermining fundamental rights due to religious pressure sets a dangerous precedent," the HRCP said. "This threatens not only the livelihoods of a marginalised community but also the very fabric of pluralism in Pakistan." The rights watchdog called on the district administration to fulfill its constitutional duty to treat all citizens equally and to ensure that administrative decisions are based on law and fairness, not appeasement. Any failure to act impartially, the HRCP warned, could deepen existing divisions and further erode public confidence in the rule of law. The statement comes amid growing concern from civil society over increasing intolerance and discriminatory practices targeting religious and sectarian minorities in various parts of the country.
Express Tribune
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
UN Security Council condemns Khuzdar school bus attack
Listen to article The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a school bus in Khuzdar, Balochistan, which resulted in the tragic deaths of at least seven Pakistanis, including five schoolchildren. At least 52 others, including 38 children, were injured in the attack. In response to the attack, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police have stepped up security at schools across the province. The Department of Education has been formally alerted, with a directive issued to District Education Officers to enhance safety measures at all educational institutions. In a press statement, the Security Council expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Pakistani government and people. The Council also wished a speedy recovery for those injured. The Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all forms poses a severe threat to international peace and security. It called for the accountability of the perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of such attacks, urging states to cooperate with Pakistan in bringing the responsible parties to justice. The statement reiterated that terrorism is unjustifiable, regardless of the motive, and emphasised the need for all countries to combat terrorism through all available means, under international law. Read more: K-P tightens school security after Khuzdar attack The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also condemned the terrorist attack on a school bus in Khuzdar, calling it a violation of basic human rights and international law. HRCP strongly condemns the heinous attack on a school bus in Khuzdar, Balochistan, which has reportedly killed several children and left dozens injured. The deliberate targeting of schoolchildren—innocent noncombatants in every sense—is a red line that must never be crossed. This… — Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) May 21, 2025 The HRCP stressed the need for the state to address issues in Balochistan through political dialogue and lawful measures rather than violent responses, while urging the identification and prosecution of those responsible for the attack. International reactions included strong condemnations from the United States and China. The US Embassy in Islamabad expressed sorrow over the murder of innocent children, emphasising that no child should fear going to school. We join Pakistan's leaders in condemning the brutal, unconscionable attack on a school bus in Khuzdar, Balochistan. The murder of innocent children is beyond comprehension. We grieve with the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts are with those recovering. No child… — U.S. Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) May 21, 2025 Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong also condemned the attack and reiterated China's support for Pakistan in countering terrorism and ensuring social stability. Khuzdar School Bus Attack The suspected bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the school bus as it drove past Zero Point near Rakhshan Hotel, Deputy Commissioner Yasir Iqbal Dashti said, adding that the bus was ferrying students to the Army Public School situated within the Khuzdar cantonment. The vehicle was rigged with more than 30 kilograms of explosives, according to the Bomb Disposal Squad. Read more: PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal Munir vow to end India-backed terrorism after Khuzdar attack The military's media wing stated that 'three innocent children and two adults have embraced Shahadat' and multiple children have sustained injuries in the 'cowardly and ghastly attack planned and orchestrated by the terrorist state of India and executed by its proxies in Balochistan. The ISPR added that India has unleashed its proxies to spread terror and unrest in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa through such heinous and cowardly acts after miserably failing on the battlefield. Soon after the deadly attack, security forces cordoned off the area and launched an investigation. Security was tightened in and around Khuzdar following the bombing, with checkpoints established and patrols intensified to prevent further attacks.
Express Tribune
20-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Death sentence upheld in fifth-grader rape case
The Lahore High Court has upheld the death sentence of a school employee convicted of raping a fifth-grade student on school premises, rejecting the defence's key objections — including delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR). The court observed that factors such as societal stigma, cultural norms, victim-blaming, concerns about privacy, and lack of support often prevent prompt reporting in sexual assault cases. A division bench headed by Justice Asjad Javaid Ghural ruled that the death penalty was not only warranted by the brutality of the crime but also necessary to serve as a deterrent. "The phrase 'no mercy for merciless' comes into play," the bench remarked, emphasising that the severity of the punishment was in accordance with the law and the circumstances of the case. The court highlighted that the perpetrator was an employee at the same school where the assault occurred and criticised the school principal for failing to take immediate action. "The victim had informed the principal, who not only remained silent but, as suggested by the record, tried to cover up the incident for reasons best known to her," the bench noted. In addressing the defense's argument over the delay in registering the FIR, the court cited findings from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan which state that only about 20% of rape cases are reported in the country. "In a society where three-fourths of sexual abuse incidents go unreported due to internalised shame, fear of judgment, and concerns over identity, the act of reporting is an exception, not the delay," the court stated. The defense also pointed to the absence of eyewitnesses and argued that the case relied solely on the victim's testimony. However, the court dismissed this argument, noting that rape is often committed in secrecy and rarely has direct witnesses. "The victim's testimony was credible and consistent," the bench held, stating that there was no legal requirement for corroboration unless specific circumstances warranted it. Addressing the lack of DNA evidence, the defense had claimed that the absence of semen stains in the forensic report undermined the prosecution's case. The court found this argument insufficient, explaining that the medical examination had taken place two days after the incident, making it unlikely for such evidence to be detected. Moreover, it ruled that DNA is merely corroborative and not essential when supported by strong ocular and medical evidence. The court concluded by dismissing the convict's appeal and affirming the trial court's decision to award the death penalty.
