Overview of Human Rights in Pakistan

In 1999, a coup led to the overthrow of the civilian government. Chief of Army Staff Pervez Musharraf assumed power at that time. In 2001, Musharraf named himself president and was sworn in to the position. The 2002 national elections were considered flawed by both international and domestic observers. Under Musharraf, the government’s human rights record has remained extremely poor. Serious problems persist in all aspects of society. Corruption is rampant throughout all aspects of society. Citizens now no longer have the right to change their government peacefully. The government restricts the freedoms of association, religion, and movement. It also violates citizens’ privacy rights. Harassment of journalists and human rights activists are also undertaken by the government.  The judiciary is not independent of the executive branch. Opposition political figures that are arrested and tried have no access to free and fair trials. Security forces in Pakistan are known to participate in extrajudicial killings, torture and rape. Arbitrary arrest and detention also occur. Trafficking in children, child abuse, discrimination against persons with disabilities, and child labor are other human rights abuses which take place throughout the country.  Meanwhile, an active extremist Islamic element is alleged to be responsible for terror acts and varying forms of abuse and intimidation in Pakistan. 

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

134th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.