ISLAMABAD: Lifetime immunity for holders of public office has concentrated unchecked power in the hands of a few, eroding parliamentary supremacy, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has cautioned.
“HRCP is deeply concerned over the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which undermines judicial independence by expanding executive control over matters that should remain free from executive interference,” the HRCP said in a statement on Sunday.
The amendment further weakens essential checks and balances at a time when public trust in state institutions is fragile, the statement added. “Lifetime immunity for holders of public office has concentrated unchecked power in the hands of a few, eroding parliamentary supremacy. HRCP also stresses that empowered, elected local governments are critical for deepening democracy and strengthening citizens’ participation in governance.”
The rights entity demanded that the efforts to curb militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan must protect fundamental freedoms and the right to dissent. Blanket internet shutdowns in Balochistan and other parts of the country have disrupted education, livelihoods, and democratic participation and must end immediately, demanded the HRCP. “HRCP urges the federal and provincial governments to implement rights- respecting security measures, conduct impartial investigations into abuses by state actors, and engage meaningfully with local communities. This includes ending enforced disappearances and the use of interment centres without due process. The use of Schedule 4 to muzzle dissent must cease.”
Custodial torture and extrajudicial killings, particularly involving CCD (Crime Control Department) and CTD (Counter Terrorism Department) personnel, demand urgent independent inquiries and accountability, the HRCP said. Such violations perpetuate impunity and threaten citizens’ right to life and dignity, it added.
The HRCP noted with alarm what it described as the ongoing harassment, detention, and forced repatriation of Afghan refugees, many facing credible threats of persecution, family separation, and severe humanitarian distress. The government must suspend deportations, ensure due process, and uphold international protection standards. Pakistan should ratify the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol and protect the right to citizenship by birth and naturalisation, the Commission demanded.
Sexual harassment in educational, public and private institutions also persists; robust reporting, transparent accountability, and preventive training are essential to safeguard learning environments and workplaces, said the HRCP.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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