UN Human Rights Committee Raises Concerns Over Human Rights Violations in Pakistan
The UN Human Rights Committee, also known as the Committee on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR), has raised concerns about human rights violations in Pakistan. These concerns were discussed during a review of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in Geneva. Pakistan ratified the ICCPR in 2010, with the first review in 2017. The current review was led by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan.
The committee highlighted issues such as enforced disappearances, anti-terrorism policies, and violations of women’s rights. Enforced disappearances have been alarmingly high since 2017, affecting political opponents, journalists, and minority communities like the Ahmadi and Pashtun. The committee noted 7,000 cases of enforced disappearances from 2004 to 2024.
Concerns were also raised about the excessive use of force during protests, the role of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and the impact of climate change on the right to life. The committee criticized police actions against peaceful protesters and the lack of investigations into rights violations.
Additionally, the committee expressed dissatisfaction with the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances and noted that enforced disappearances have not been criminalized in Pakistan’s legal system.
Doubts Revealed
UN Human Rights Committee -: The UN Human Rights Committee is a group of experts from different countries who check if countries are following rules to protect people’s rights. They make sure everyone is treated fairly and with respect.
Human Rights Violations -: Human rights violations happen when people’s basic rights, like freedom and safety, are not respected. This can include unfair treatment, violence, or not allowing people to speak freely.
Pakistan -: Pakistan is a country in South Asia, next to India. It has its own government and laws, but sometimes there are problems with how people are treated there.
Enforced Disappearances -: Enforced disappearances happen when people are taken away secretly by the government or other groups, and their families don’t know where they are. It’s a serious problem because it causes fear and sadness.
Anti-terrorism policies -: Anti-terrorism policies are rules and actions that a country uses to stop terrorism, which is when people use violence to scare others for political reasons. Sometimes these policies can be too strict and affect innocent people.
ICCPR -: ICCPR stands for International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It’s an agreement between countries to respect and protect people’s rights, like freedom of speech and fair treatment.
Geneva -: Geneva is a city in Switzerland where many important international meetings happen. It’s known for being a place where countries come together to discuss global issues.
Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances -: This is a group set up to investigate cases where people have disappeared. They try to find out what happened and help bring justice to the families affected.
