ISLAMABAD
Pakistan’s human rights landscape during 2025 was marked by a deepening disconnect between constitutional guarantees and ground realities, with shrinking civic space, rising violence, and increasing centralisation of power overshadowing limited institutional gains, according to a major new report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).
The HRCP’s annual State of Human Rights report was launched in the capital city on Monday, in a press conference, with Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt, former chairperson Hina Jilani, co-chairperson Munizae Jahangir, vice-chair Nasreen Azhar and secretary-general Harris Khalique who presented the report’s findings earlier today and took questions from the press. Director Farah Zia who is the editor of the report was also present.
“HRCP believes that the foremost issue in this country is the threat to people’s lives. Individuals are being abducted and disappeared from their homes; the sanctity of the home is being violated, and the Constitution and the law are being trampled upon,” said Asad Iqbal Butt, Chairperson of HRCP. “If a single individual violates the law, it affects society—similarly, if the very institutions sworn to uphold the law violate the Constitution themselves, it breeds hatred. This pushes people to stand in opposition to them, leading to anarchy across the country. In this regard, Balochistan ranks first, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and then Punjab. This is a dangerous trend. People must be allowed to speak, and the state must learn to tolerate dissent.”
“Overall, I must say that the violations regarding human rights, democracy, and the rule of law that we documented for 2025 are steadily increasing,” said Hina Jilani human rights lawyer and founding member of HRCP. “These include enforced disappearances, and curbs on the freedom of speech and freedom of association, along with various pressures exerted on civil society and the independence of the judiciary. While ensuring these rights is the government’s responsibility, the state has effectively surrendered to the security apparatus. We have become a ‘security state.’
In such circumstances, it is vital for civil society to speak out and exert pressure on the government and institutions so that they are compelled to uphold human rights.”
“It is the responsibility of the government to ensure the fundamental human rights guaranteed by our Constitution,” said Munizae Jahangir. “Laws that erode these rights should not be utilized—such as the Anti-Terrorism Act or the PECA Act. These laws have not only been used to victimize journalists, but legal amendments in Balochistan have also granted institutions the power to detain any person for up to three months without presenting them before a magistrate. No one knows what they endure during those three months, nor is it disclosed whether they are permitted to meet their family members.” Jahangir said this was a direct violation of the Constitution and the United Nations charters ratified by Pakistan, particularly regarding Civil and Political Rights. Therefore, imposing laws on citizens under the guise of security parameters is contrary to human rights.
“Regarding the government’s stance on the repatriation of Afghan refugees, there are individuals among them who face serious threats upon returning to Afghanistan. We, at the HRCP, advocate for their safety and urge the government to take better measures and arrangements in this regards,” she said.
Activist and journalist Adnan Rehmat also spoke on the occasion.
“If we review the past few years, the scale of human rights violations has not diminished. While these issues are being discussed, it seems no one cares—as if we are talking to a brick wall,” he said. “It is deeply regrettable that the political parties themselves are responsible for the laws enacted and the amendments made, as they were the ones who passed them. Therefore, their accountability is essential. We must have the opportunity for dialogue, and there is a dire need to engage with the leadership of these political parties. This report is a charge sheet regarding the violation of fundamental human rights, and those responsible must be held accountable.”
Biggest human rights issue in the country
The report identifies freedom of expression as the most severely curtailed right during 2025, citing legal changes, censorship, and intimidation that targeted journalists, activists, and political workers. Amendments to cybercrime laws, particularly the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), were widely criticised for being used to suppress dissent, with cases filed against critics and media personnel.
A central concern highlighted by the report is the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which significantly altered the balance of power by expanding executive influence over the judiciary. The amendment introduced a Federal Constitutional Court, reshaped judicial appointments, and enabled preventive detention measures that rights groups say undermine due process and judicial independence. The erosion of democratic norms was accompanied by worsening law and order.
According to the report, at least 1,272 militant attacks and counterterrorism operations were recorded in 2025, resulting in over 3,400 deaths—a sharp increase from the previous year. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan accounted for the overwhelming majority of casualties.
Enforced disappearances
Enforced disappearances and extrajudicial actions remained persistent concerns also. The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIED) recorded 273 new cases, though HRCP warned that the actual number is likely higher. Police encounters also surged, with nearly 1,700 suspects killed nationwide, raising questions about accountability and due process. Reports of intimidation, enforced disappearances, and restrictions on movement contributed to a climate of fear and self-censorship, limiting public discourse and obscuring human rights violations.
Amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 at the federal and Balochistan levels, allowing law enforcement agencies and even the armed forces to detain any person for up to three months without charge or judicial oversight, expanded the scope for undermining fundamental rights of liberty, due process, and protection from arbitrary detention. In particular, the report highlights a marked deterioration in judicial independence, particularly following the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which reconfigured judicial appointments and expanded executive influence.
Key court decisions during the year further narrowed democratic space, raising serious concerns about due process and the separation of powers through judgements that enabled the military trials of civilians and effectively delegitimised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) by denying the party the reserved seats it had been granted in 2024. Security challenges compounded rights violations. Militancy and counterterrorism operations disproportionately affected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, resulting in significant civilian and law enforcement casualties.
The report also documents widespread violations against vulnerable groups. Gender-based violence (GBV) rose significantly, with over 6,500 reported cases, including hundreds of so-called “honour killings.” Religious minorities continued to face persecution, including mob violence and blasphemy-related cases, while transgender persons and children were also subjected to increasing violence and exploitation.
Socioeconomic rights showed little improvement. Pakistan’s unemployment rate climbed to a 21-year high of 7.1 percent, while millions of workers remained underpaid, with widespread noncompliance with minimum wage laws. Education and health indicators also remained alarming, with over 25 million children out of school and nearly 10 million suffering from stunting due to malnutrition.
Environmental and climate-related challenges further compounded vulnerabilities. Deadly floods, extreme heat, and widespread displacement affected millions, while Pakistan ranked among the most polluted countries globally, underscoring the growing climate crisis.
Enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and collective punishments persisted, while vulnerable groups—including women, children, religious minorities, and transgender persons—continued to face violence and discrimination without adequate redress. Miners and sanitation workers in particular remained vulnerable to accidents with little reported progress in improving their safety. While climate-related disasters, particularly in Gilgit-Baltistan, caused multiple deaths and destroyed infrastructure, the government’s response remained reactive rather than long-term. The report notes several positive developments. The passage of the National Commission for Minorities Act represents a long-awaited step toward institutional protection for religious minorities. The Child Marriage Restraint Acts for Islamabad Capital Territory and Balochistan marked progress in safeguarding children’s rights, while the higher courts issued important judgments advancing women’s rights in areas such as inheritance and marriage. Targeted welfare initiatives and institutional reforms at provincial levels also offered relief, but incrementally.
In its conclusion, HRCP warns that the continued curtailment of fundamental freedoms—particularly freedom of expression—poses a serious threat to democracy itself. Without urgent reforms to restore institutional balance, protect vulnerable populations, and uphold the rule of law, the report suggests Pakistan risks further democratic backsliding.
