KARACHI: Pakistan has been included in the Monitor of Citizens Human Rights Watch List According to a statement released by the monitor, due to a narrow civilian space, human rights activists are being targeted by authorities, and journalists have been disconnected by Drakonian laws.
According to Sox, Pakistan joins the Democratic Republic of Congo, Serbia, Italy and the United States in this year’s watch list, which “list the rapidly decline in civil liberties”.
It lists Pakistan’s status on its website as “suppressed”.
“County has been included in the Citizens’ Monitor Watch List as a result of the recent crimes, opposition and minority protests and digital space sanctions, and digital space sanctions.”
The country joins Dr. Congo, Serbia, Italy and the United States.
The release further said that the government has brought “trumpet charges” against the Baloch solidarity committee leader, Dr Mehrang Baloch and human rights activist and lawyer Aman Zainab Mazari.
The release states that Maharang faces numerous criminal charges for organizing sit -ins and attending gatherings under the Anti -Terrorism Act.
Meanwhile, the release states that the Mazari was “accused of actively helping the legal resolution of the violence and oppression of the victims and supporting the rights of religious and ethnic communities.”
Sox added that the Anti -Terrorism Act was also used in 2024 to ban the Pashtun -rich movement.
“The accusations against human rights guards like Dr. Mehrang Baloch and Aman Zainab Mazari are a political witch. They are trying to silence disagreement,” said Rajelo Karunaniti, a lawyer for Asia and campaign officer for Asia.
The release added, “Sox has demanded the government to immediately abandon these fabricated allegations and revoke the ban against the Pashtun Tahfaz movement.”
The monitor witnessed a organized crackdown on political opponents’ protests in October and November last year. “Hundreds of people were arrested and charged before protests under vague and maximum laws,” Sox said. “Authorities blocked major highways and routes to prevent the movement of protesters.
“The protests of ethnic Sindh and Baloch groups were fulfilled by the authorities. These incidents are a clear violation of Pakistan’s promises to maintain civil liberties.
In addition, Swix noted that journalists were targeted under the prevention of the Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), which said with a press release that they were accused of “spreading false statements” against state institutions.
The Monitor added that the PECA was amended in January to “tighten its control over free speech”, while it noted that the social media platform X has been closed in Pakistan since February 2024. Swix also mentioned the suspension of mobile and Internet services during the protest in its press release.
The press release states that “protests by opposition and ethnic minority groups and targeting journalists and targeting digital sanctions contradict Pakistan’s international human rights responsibilities.” “They are also against the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee.”
According to Sox, the UN Human Rights Committee reviewed Pakistan’s record of civil and political rights and called for recommendations for the protection of civil liberties in October 2024.
“The authorities will have to take steps to change the rights of peaceful assembly and expression and protect their rights and bring the criminals to justice,” Karunaniti added.
Dawn, appeared on March 10, 2025
