WASHINGTON: In Pakis­tan, the military and intelligence services nominally reported to civilian authorities but at times operated without effective civilian oversight, the US State Department informed Congress on Thursday.

The department’s 2014 country reports on human rights identify extra-judicial and targeted killings, sectarian violence, disappearances, and torture as the most serious human rights problems in Pakistan.

Globally, governments continued crackdown on civil soc­iety and the freedoms of association and assembly and res­tri­ctions on free expression and press freedom increased.

Other problems included accountability deficits for security force abuses; lack of effective labour rights protections; and marginalisation of vulnerable groups, in particular: religious and ethnic mino­rities; women and children; and people with disabilities.

The State Department notes that the 2013 election marked the first time since independence in 1947 that one elected government completed its term and peacefully transferred power to another.

Independent observers and some political parties, however, raised concerns about election irregularities.

“The military and intelligence services nominally re­ported to civilian authorities but at times operated without effective civilian over­sight, although the new government took steps to improve coordination with the military,” the report adds.

Police in Pakistan generally reported to civilian authority, although there were instances in which police forces acted independently. Security forces sometimes committed abuses.

Lack of government accountability remained a problem, and abuses often went unpunished, fostering a culture of impunity. Pakistani authorities punished government officials for human rights violations in very few instances.

The report also notes that violence, abuse, and social and religious intolerance by militant organisations and other non-governmental actors contributed to a culture of lawlessness in some parts of the country, particularly in Balochis­tan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtun­khwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Religious minorities faced a spectre of growing violence during the year. They also faced discriminatory laws, societal intolerance, and a lack of accountability for crimes against them.

Other human rights problems included arbitrary detention, lengthy pre-trial detention, a weak criminal justice system, lack of judicial independence in the lower courts, and infringement on citizens’ privacy rights.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2015

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