May 12, 2023

Staff Report

LAHORE

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for greater accountability and transparency within state institutions to effectively address the ongoing human rights challenges faced by the people of Sindh.
In its annual report, State of Human Rights in 2022, the Commission terms the increase in police encounters and crime a worrying trend. Although overall crime rates have decreased, there has been a significant rise in police encounters resulting in fatalities. The report raises alarm about the lack of transparency and accountability surrounding these encounters, and observes that individuals from marginalized communities are disproportionately affected.
The report also reveals that women and girls bear the brunt of poor infrastructure, often enduring long journeys to access basic services.
Access to quality education continues to be a persistent challenge for Sindh’s population. While there have been some improvements in recent years, many children still lack access to education of sufficient quality. The report underscores that girls are especially affected, often forced to abandon their studies due to early marriage or other cultural factors.

Similarly, access to healthcare remains limited for individuals residing outside urban areas due to scarcity of resources and cultural barriers that hinder women from obtaining necessary healthcare services. The report mentions that the persistently high maternal mortality rates in Sindh are a consequence of these barriers.

Amidst these challenges, the report also acknowledges positive developments. The passage of legislation to regularize settlements in Larkana is viewed as a significant step forward, granting legal recognition and protection to long-term residents. Additionally, the introduction of the People’s Bus Service (PBS), providing affordable and reliable transportation to residents of Karachi, Larkana, and Hyderabad, is lauded.

Furthermore, the report points out specific incidents from 2022 that impacted the human rights situation. These include forced displacements due to anti-encroachment drives in Karachi without addressing concerns raised by residents and civil society; severe monsoon rains leading to flash floods that devastated several districts, particularly Dadu; and the rape and murder of a woman from the Bheel community in Sindh.

The report calls for concerted efforts to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights for all individuals, and accountability mechanisms and transparency within government structures to redress human rights concerns in the province.

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