Essay:Human Rights in Pakistan
Outlines:
1. Introduction.
2. What are human rights? '
3. Need to safeguard the rights.
4. Their implementation and usefulness.
5. Conclusion.
The situation of human rights in Pakistan is a complex one, as a result of the country's diversity, latge population, its status as a developing country and a sovereign, Islamic
republic as well as an Islamic democracy with a mixture of both Islamic and colonial secular laws.
Although the government has enacted measures to counter any problems, abuses remain. Furthermore, courts suffer from lack of funds, outside intervention, long trial delays and lengthy pretrial detentions.
The major human rights problems included extrajudicial . killings, disappearances, and torture. Poor prison conditions, instances of arbitrary detention, lengthy pretrial detentions, a weak criminal justice system, insufficient training for prosecutors and criminal investigators, a lack of judicial ' independence in the lower courts, and infringements on citizens privacy remained problems. Harassment of journalists, some censorship, and self-censorship were problems.
There were some restrictions on freedom of assembly. Corruption was widespread within the government and lower levels of the police forces, and the government made few attempts to combat the problem. Rape, domestic violence, sexual harassment, horror crimes, abuse, and discrimination against women remained * serious problems. Religious freedom violations, as well as- violence and discrimination against religious minorities continued. Child abuse and exploitive child labour were - problems. Widespread human trafficking, including exploitation of bonded laborers by landowners; forced child labour, and commercial sexual exploitation of children remained problems, as did lack of respect for worker rights.
Some killings of individuals accused of crimes allegedly resulted from extreme physical abuse while in official custody.
During the year, the non-governmental organization (NGO) Society for Human Rights and Prisoners’ Aid (SHARP) reported 72 civilian deaths after encounters with police and 168 deaths in jails, an increase from the previous year. The police * stated that these deaths occurred when suspects attempted to escape, resisted arrest, or committed suicide. Human rights observers, family members, and the media reported that security forces staged many of the deaths. Lengthy trial delays and failures to discipline and consistently prosecute those responsible for abuses contributed to a culture of impunity.
Mob violence remained a problem. During the year, politically motivated disappearances continued. There were reports of disappearances In nearly all areas of the country. Some police and security forces held prisoners Incommunicado, refusing to disclose their location,
The Supreme Court continued Its hearings on missing persons cases. In March, the federal government formed a three-member Judicial commission headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge to look Into the Issue of disappearances. The commission’s mandate Included preparing, a comprehensive list of missing persons, and finding those responsible for their disappearance. In May, the commission held several meetings and recorded statements of family members and government officials. The HRCP reported that the creation of a commission on enforced disappearances did not appear to satisfy the hopes of the families of those who disappeared.
The law prohibits torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, but there Were reports that security forces, including intelligence services, tortured and abused individuals in custody. During the year, the NGO SHARP reported 4,069 cases of torture by police; a significant increase in the total number of torture and rape cases was observed,'almost double the number compared with 2009.
Human rights organizations reported that methods of torture included beating with batons and whips, burning with cigarettes, whipping soles of the feet, prolonged isolation, electric shock, denial of food or sleep-, handing upside down, and forced spreading of the legs with bar fetters. Torture occasionally resulted in death or serious injury. Observers noted the underreporting of torture throughout the country.
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