HRCP report flags shrinking civic space and rights concerns in 2025

ISLAMABAD: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has released its annual report, State of Human Rights in 2025, saying the country saw a sharp narrowing of civic space, concerns over judicial independence and worsening insecurity during the year under review.

As per details, the rights body said freedom of expression, particularly the ability to question authority and seek accountability, remained under severe pressure in 2025, with wider implications for the rule of law and the protection of basic freedoms.

Concerns about judicial independence grew after the 27th Constitutional Amendment in 2025, while executive interference in the judiciary also increased during the same period. It also highlighted institutional changes after the amendment, including the creation of a Federal Constitutional Court and greater executive authority in judicial appointments. The Supreme Court, it added, also restored permission for military trials of civilians.

The HRCP said amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act in 2025 allowed law enforcement agencies to detain citizens for up to three months, raising concerns related to due process and civil liberties. It also said Pakistan ranked 130th out of 143 countries for enforcement of fundamental rights.

On the judicial side, a rise in death sentences. According to the HRCP, lower courts handed down 174 death sentences in 2024, which increased to 225 in 2025.

The report also documented 1,272 terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations in 2025, in which 3,417 people were killed and 2,134 were injured across the country.

In Karachi, it said, 64,000 criminal incidents were recorded during the year, resulting in more than 70 deaths. Nationwide, 1,696 suspected individuals were killed in 1,155 police encounters in 2025. Most of these encounters, were carried out by Punjab’s Crime Control Department, where 977 people were killed in 1,128 reported cases.

Prison overcrowding remained a major issue, according to the HRCP. Provincial prisons have capacity for 64,550 inmates but are currently holding 110,402 prisoners, taking overcrowding to 171%.

Women associated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the May 9 cases remain in custody, while concerns were also raised over the worsening health of Dr Yasmin Rashid in detention. Petitions concerning reserved seats for the former ruling party PTI were rejected during the year.

On cross-border detainees, the HRCP said 738 Pakistani citizens, including fishermen, are imprisoned in India, while 257 Indian prisoners are being held in Pakistan, including 58 civilians and 199 fishermen.

The commission recorded 273 new enforced disappearance cases in 2025, with the highest number reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and said the actual number is believed to be much higher.

Gender-based violence and child protection

Indicators related to gender-based violence worsened in 2025. Pakistan ranked 145th out of 148 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index, while cases of gender-based violence rose by 25%.

A total of 6,543 gender-based violence cases were reported over 11 months, with Punjab accounting for 78% of them. The HRCP documented 470 women killed in so-called honour-related violence, 1,332 domestic violence-related murders and 2,912 other violence cases.

It also recorded 3,815 rape cases, 983 gang-rape cases and 2,586 incidents of cyber harassment targeting women.

Violence against children also remained high, with more than 3,600 cases reported, including 2,003 incidents of sexual abuse. The report further listed 1,107 kidnapping cases, 365 missing children cases, 53 child marriage cases and 52 child abuse cases linked to pornography-related material.

The HRCP said 19 transgender persons were killed in 2025 and two were subjected to acid attacks. Ten of the killings were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while 13 transgender individuals faced sexual violence.

Labour and poverty concerns

The report also pointed to labour-related issues, saying 97 workers were killed or injured in workplace accidents, including 52 miners and 13 sanitation workers.

Millions of people in Pakistan continue to live at or below the poverty line, underscoring continuing socio-economic challenges.