In its annual report for 2018 on the "State of Human Rights" the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), once again, presents a dismal picture. A year of general elections, 2018, was plagued by allegations of pre-poll manipulation and vote rigging, notes the report, which were never resolved, as well as some appalling outbreaks of violence. Freedom of expression, particularly in the run-up to the elections, was restricted to an "unprecedented level". The only bright spot was that more women contested general seats than in any past elections, and for the first time transgender candidates participated in the polls. Aside from the controversies that cast a long shadow over the elections, the rights group goes on to record a long list of violations, including reports of enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, abuse and murder of children, violence against women, child labour, religious intolerance, persecution of minorities, crimes perpetrated against both men and women in the name of honour, non-implementation of safety standards for mine workers in Balochistan, and malnutrition-related deaths of children in Thar.
One positive finding of the report is the Supreme Court's acquittal of Asia Bibi, though not without ensuing violence against the verdict which was stopped with a rather unpalatable 'agreement'. The HRCP has regularly been holding a mirror to the power elites. Yet the people's rights continue to be ignored. Sad as it is, when it comes to issues impacting them, politicians never forget to invoke the relevant constitutional provisions, but hardly ever strive for the rights of the unrepresented weaker sections of society. Just a few days ago, for instance, the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan, Asif Saeed Khosa, had to remind the government of Article 25-A of the Constitution which obligates the state to provide free and compulsory education to all children between five to 16 years of age. True, most of the violations the present report catalogues happened on the watch of previous governments. True also that some of the prejudices that push dominant sections of society to trample on the rights of vulnerable parts of the population are deeply entrenched. But that is no excuse to allow injustices to persist, especially in the 'New Pakistan' the PTI government promised the people at the election time.
Prime Minister Imran Khan repeatedly talks of improving the lot of the poor, and protecting the fundamental rights of all citizens, free of discrimination on the bases of religion, sectarian or ethnic identity, and gender. His Minister for Human Rights, Sheerin Mazari, seems to have a genuine resolve to address the abhorrent issue of enforced disappearances, as well as to pursue all other cases of rights violations. So far there is little noticeable progress, though. This government is expected to pay heed to all the issues the HRCP has highlighted. Only then will people know they are living in a 'New Pakistan'.