The United Nations Human Rights Committee has raised concerns regarding human rights violations in Pakistan during the country’s review under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The review, held on October 17 and 18 in Geneva, marks Pakistan’s second review since it ratified the ICCPR in 2010, with the first taking place in 2017. A Pakistani delegation led by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan represented the country in the session.

The Committee drew attention to Pakistan’s defamation laws. Noting that under the Pakistan Penal Code and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), defamation remains a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment and fines, the Committee said that defamation laws should be “carefully implemented” so they don’t stifle freedom of speech. Additionally, the Punjab Defamation Bill 2024, passed without consultation with stakeholders, was highlighted as a tool that could potentially be used to target public officials without evidence of harm.

A member of the Committee also cited reports that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was exceeding its mandate by using directives to censor journalists and media outlets, particularly the Pemra Amendment Bill, which introduces a vague definition of “misinformation” that could be used to justify censorship under the guise of regulating authentic news.

Despite enacting the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act of 2021, three years ago, the Committee noted that its implementation remains weak. They noted that the Act, which was supposed to protect journalists, has not led to establishing the necessary Commission to oversee its enforcement. The Committee member pointed out that threats, harassment, abduction, violence, enforced disappearances, and killings of journalists remain widespread, leading to self-censorship in the media.

Internet outages and online surveillance were additional concerns raised during the review by a Committee member. The Committee cited the internet blackout during the May 2023 protests, which lasted four days and was followed by disruptions until the general elections.

The Committee acknowledged Pakistan’s ongoing engagement with the UN human rights system. The review’s live broadcast on UN Web TV was accessible to member states, civil society organizations, and the general public.