ISLAMABAD – The US State Department has expressed concerns over humanrights in Pakistan, pointing out several cases of extrajudicial killings,enforced disappearances, and discrimination against women, and children.
The recent report, which was released as part of a series of reports onseveral nations, flagged severe human rights violations committed againstvarious groups, including media personnel.
It mentioned arrests and enforced disappearances at the hands of stateforces in South Asian nation. It picked lack of government accountability,and abuses, including corruption and misconduct, as key issues, and furtheradded that such cases end with no punishments which fosters a culture ofimpunity among perpetrators.
The State Department in its executive summary mentioned that authoritiesseldom investigated or punished government officials for reported humanrights abuses or acts of corruption.
Respect for the integrity of the person, respect for civil liberties,freedom to participate in the political process, corruption and lack oftransparency in government, governmental posture towards the internationaland non-governmental investigation of alleged abuses of human rights,discrimination and societal abuses and workers rights were seven parts ofthe report.
It further mentioned curbs on freedom of expression and media in thecountry and the torture of journalists was also denounced.
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The report noted that the law provides for freedom of expression, includingfor members of the press, but constitutional restrictions exist, pointingout threats, harassment, abductions, violence, and killings that ledjournalists and editors to practice self-censorship.
Law enforcers are under the jurisdiction of provincial governments, itsaid, adding that scores of cases of discrimination against women, childrenand workers have been pointed out.
Besides Pakistan, US State Department also covered violations of humanrights in India, mentioning that the violations continued and restrictionson freedom of expression and press continue under Narendra Modi’sgovernment.
