Civic Freedom Report Labels Pakistan as 'Repressed'

Islamabad, March 10 (NationPress) A global coalition of civil society groups and activists dedicated to enhancing citizen engagement and civil society globally has raised significant alarms about the state of civic freedom in Pakistan in its most recent report published on Monday.

By including Pakistan on its monitoring watchlist, Civicus emphasized the increasing criminalization of human rights advocates and journalists, the suppression of human rights movements and protests, as well as digital restrictions within the nation.

According to the Civicus monitor's human rights watchlist for 2025, Pakistan is now classified as "repressed", indicating that the civic environment in the country is severely limited.

"The recent criminalization of activists, repression of dissent, and limitations on minority protests and digital liberties have led to Pakistan being placed on the Civicus Monitor watchlist," the organization reported.

In its findings, Civicus highlighted the challenges faced by Baloch human rights advocate Mahrang Baloch, head of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, and human rights attorney Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir.

"In October 2024, authorities targeted prominent human rights advocate and Baloch leader, Dr. Mahrang Baloch, who is confronting unfounded accusations of supporting separatist factions. This incident occurred shortly after Baloch was barred from boarding a flight abroad with fellow activist Sammi Deen Baloch," the report indicates.

"During the same month, human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her spouse were also accused of 'terror-related activities'. Human rights advocate Idris Khattak has now spent five years imprisoned as retaliation for his efforts, while the government has prohibited the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), which has campaigned nationally against human rights abuses targeting the Pashtun community," it added.

Civicus also pointed out the Anti-Terrorism Act, utilized by the current Pakistani administration to impose a ban on the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement during 2024, criticizing the charges, actions, and assaults against human rights defenders, lawyers, and other entities as a part of a political witch-hunt.

"The Karachi police launched a crackdown around the Sindh Rawadari March in Karachi in October 2024, ahead of a peaceful demonstration by ethnic Baloch individuals in Sindh province in January 2025," it notes.

The report also highlighted the persecution of journalists under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for allegedly disseminating false narratives against state institutions.

"The suppression of protests by opposition and ethnic minority groups, alongside the targeting of journalists and digital restrictions, contradicts Pakistan's international human rights commitments. These actions also oppose the recommendations made by the UN Human Rights Committee," stated Civicus.