The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Sunday (Nov. 23) demanded formation of a commission to investigate misuse of the country’s harsh blasphemy laws and legislate against forcible conversion.
Sounding an urgent alarm over what it described as rapidly escalating threats to constitutional democracy, civic freedoms and minority communities, the commission drew attention to the worsening situation of religious minorities, particularly Ahmadis, who continued to face mob attacks, violence at worship sites and desecration of graves.
“The state must ensure protection, prosecute incitement, and implement the delayed commission to investigate blasphemy law misuse as well as legislate against forced conversions,” HRCP Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt said at the conclusion of the commission’s 39th annual general meeting.
Christians in Pakistan have been continually victimized by blasphemy laws and forced marriages of minors.
Raising concerns over child rights, the commission asserted in a press statement that child marriage remained pervasive and harmful, jeopardizing girls’ health, education and their futures. It demanded uniform legislation defining a minor and declaring illegal all marriages under 18.
It further noted persistent sexual harassment in educational institutions and workplaces, calling for stronger reporting systems, transparent accountability and preventive training.
The HRCP stated that the cumulative impact of recent political and security decisions was eroding fundamental rights and weakening public trust in state institutions. Expressing grave concern over passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, the commission asserted it threatened judicial independence by expanding executive control over matters that must remain free of interference.
The amendment severely undermines the system of checks and balances, especially at a time when democratic institutions were already under strain, the commission stated.
It criticized the provision of lifetime immunity for public officeholders, arguing that it concentrated unchecked power among a small group and compromised parliamentary supremacy. The commission reiterated that empowered, elected local governments were essential for deepening democracy and ensuring meaningful citizen participation in governance.
Addressing deteriorating security in Pakistan, HRCP stressed that counter-militancy efforts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces must not come at the cost of basic freedoms and the right to dissent. It condemned continued blanket internet shutdowns in Balochistan and other regions, saying that such blackouts have crippled education, economic activity and democratic engagement and must be lifted without delay.
The HRCP called on federal and provincial governments to adopt rights-respecting security policies, carry out impartial investigations into abuses by state actors, and engage constructively with local communities. It urged an immediate end to forced disappearances and the use of internment centers without due process, and it called for discontinuing the use of Schedule 4 as a tool to suppress dissent.
The HRCP statement also highlighted growing alarm over the harassment, detention and forced repatriation of Afghan refugees. Many deported or detained refugees, it noted, faced genuine risks of persecution, family separation, and acute humanitarian distress. It urged the government to halt deportations, guarantee due process and uphold international protection standards.
The commission renewed its longstanding call for Pakistan to ratify the 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol and to protect the right to citizenship by birth and naturalization.
Citing rising instances of custodial torture and extrajudicial killings, especially involving Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Crime Control Department (CCD) personnel, HRCP demanded urgent, independent inquiries and strict accountability. Such violations, the commission noted, perpetuate impunity and pose a severe threat to citizens’ right to life and dignity.
In his closing remarks, the commission chairman stressed that Pakistan is at a critical crossroads and warned that unless these issues are addressed urgently and comprehensively, the country risks deepening democratic erosion and escalating humanitarian distress.
Pakistan, whose population is 96-percent Muslim, ranked eighth on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian.
