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Pakistan NGOs to UN: Push New Pakistan Leadership to Commit to Human Rights Letter to UN Member States on Pakistan's Candidacy for the Human Rights Council A coalition of more than 20 NGOs worldwide calls on UN Member States to push new Pakistan leadership to renew its commitment to Human Righst as part of its candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council. May 14, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan Human Rights Watch's Submission to the Human Rights Council Ongoing human rights concerns in Pakistan include arbitrary detention (including of lawyers and human rights defenders); lack of fair trials; mistreatment, torture and enforced disappearances of terrorism suspects and political opponents; harassment, intimidation and censorship of the media; violence against women; and discrimination against religious minorities. Since November 2007, the Government has severely interfered with democratic institutions and dissolved the independent judiciary. May 5, 2008 Written Statement Printer friendly version Cementing democracy By Ali Dayan Hasan, South Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch Published in The Dawn For now, the army appears to have opted for a strategic retreat from the political arena. Its former leader, President Pervez Musharraf, though characteristically unrepentant and unashamed, nevertheless stands humiliated and diminished. March 17, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Letter to the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Urging the Organisation to Improve and Strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. In particular, we urge the OIC to consider two amendments to the Convention in order to narrow its overbroad definition of terrorism and to make absolutely clear that there is no sanction in Islam for deliberately attacking civilians, whatever the circumstances or justifications. March 11, 2008 Letter Also available in 
Printer friendly version Pakistan: Winning Parties Should Keep Commitments on Rights Your parties have provided an important opportunity to start a transition towards a rights-respecting government that abides by the rule of law. February 21, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Pakistan: Media Restrictions Undermine Election Curbs on Journalists Hamper Election Reporting Threats and censorship against the independent media, bias in state television, and a widespread ban on live broadcasting are limiting the public’s right to information as Pakistan goes to the polls, Human Rights Watch said today. Recent curbs on the media prohibit coverage of election rallies, live call-ins, live talk shows, live coverage of protests, or any live broadcasts that could show the government in a negative light, severely restricting the right to free expression ahead of Pakistan’s election on February 18, 2008. February 16, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Pakistan: Attorney General Aware of ‘Massive’ Election-Rigging Plans Audio Recording Calls Into Question Government’s Commitment to Fair Elections In an audio recording obtained by Human Rights Watch (http://hrw.org/audio/2008/urdu/pakistan0208.htm), Pakistan’s Attorney General Malik Qayyum stated that upcoming parliamentary elections will be “massively rigged,” Human Rights Watch said today. February 15, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Pakistan: Recorded Phone Conversation by the Attorney General In an audio recording obtained by Human Rights Watch, Pakistan’s Attorney General Malik Qayyum stated that upcoming parliamentary elections will be “massively rigged.” February 15, 2008 Audio Clip Pakistan Goes to the Polls On February 18, 2008, Pakistanis went to the polls to vote in elections for the National Assembly (the lower house of parliament). February 14, 2008 Special Focus Printer friendly version Pakistan: Election Commission Not Impartial Electoral Machinery Controlled by Musharraf Appointees The failure of Pakistan’s Election Commission to act on allegations of irregularities means the electoral machinery for national elections due on February 18, 2008 cannot be considered impartial, Human Rights Watch said today. The structure of the commission, which has wide powers to investigate complaints and take action, also suggests it will not rule fairly in the election. February 11, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Video: President Musharraf Shows His True Colors Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf responds to a question posed by Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Roth asked Musharraf whether, in the interest of free debate before the February 18, 2008 parliamentary elections, he would release the judges and lawyers who were being held under house arrest but had not been charged with any crime. February 11, 2008 Video Pakistan: Judges Remain Under Arrest Before Election Independent Judiciary Critical Safeguard for Free and Fair Elections The continued detention of independent judges, the recent re-arrests of lawyers on spurious grounds, and the large-scale induction of President Pervez Musharraf’s appointees into Pakistan’s judiciary will have a serious impact on the credibility of the national elections scheduled for February 18, Human Rights Watch said today. February 9, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version UK/Pakistan: Brown Should Press Musharraf on Rights Free Elections Require Restoration of Independent Judiciary British Prime Minister Gordon Brown should tell visiting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf that free and fair elections will be impossible without the full restoration of Pakistan’s judiciary, Human Rights Watch said today. January 26, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Pakistan: Scotland Yard Should Quit Flawed Bhutto Inquiry Independent International Investigation Needed to Conduct Credible Probe The UK’s Scotland Yard should not be part of a flawed Pakistani investigation into the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch urged Pakistan to seek an independent international investigation of the murder, such as under United Nations auspices. January 24, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version UAE: Meetings Should Address Migrant Workers’ Rights When labor ministers from 22 Asian and Middle Eastern countries meet in Abu Dhabi this week to discuss Asian contract migrant workers, they should address widespread violations of migrant workers’ rights, Human Rights Watch said today. January 18, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Injudicious imaginings The UK must forge its own, more realistic Pakistan policy By Ali Dayan Hasan, South Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch Published in Progress Magazine January 11, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Commentary: Dynasties, democracy and dictatorship By Ali Dayan Hasan, South Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch Published in CNN International Honoring Benazir Bhutto's last wishes, her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) today named her teenage son Bilawal, and her husband, Asif Zardari as its leaders. December 31, 2007 Commentary Also available in 
Printer friendly version Video: Political Leadership in Pakistan Ali Dayan Hasan, Asia researcher, talks exclusively to CNN's Zain Verjee on the future of Pakistan. © 2008 CNN December 30, 2007 Video Pakistan: Bhutto Assassination a Tragedy Crucial to Uphold Fundamental Rights to Prevent Turmoil The assassination of Benazir Bhutto is a tragic event with serious implications for Pakistan’s transition to democracy, Human Rights Watch said today. December 27, 2007 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Pakistan's future imperfect While Britain and the US refuse to challenge Musharraf's rule, the media remains muzzled and free elections are nowhere in sight By Ali Dayan Hasan, South Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch Published in Guardian Unlimited Pervez Musharraf, president of Pakistan and serial coup-maker, kept his "promise" to the west, lifting on December 15 the state of emergency he imposed on November 3, resigning from his position as army chief and calling parliamentary elections for January 8 next year. The international media that had descended on Islamabad in droves has largely gone home and the crisis is over. London and Washington are congratulating themselves on a job well done: Musharraf is now a "civilian president", the constitution stands "restored", and full democracy is around the corner. December 21, 2007 Commentary Printer friendly version |
South Asia Earthquake: Updates and Information  
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