‘In a year of general elections, it was inevitable perhaps that the progress and observation of human rights issues might be suspended, if not forgotten,” noted the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Monday. This was regretted at the launch ceremony of the flagship annual report “State of Human Rights in 2018.” It further added, “The elections themselves were plagued by allegations of pre-poll manipulation and vote rigging – never fully resolved – and some appalling outbreaks of violence.” The HRCP went on maintain, “Nonetheless, there were more women candidates for general seats in these elections than in any past election, and for the first time, transgender candidates contested the polls.” In a statement issued on Monday, HRCP commented on “the unprecedented level to which the fundamental right to freedom of expression was overtly violated, particularly in the run-up to the elections,” while adding, “in the guise of national security concerns, restrictions on media coverage were stepped up, journalists took increasingly to self-censorship, the distribution of a national newspaper was severely curtailed, and a media blackout was imposed on coverage of certain events.” The commission noted that 2008 had begun with a horrifying crime against a six-year-old child, Zainab, and the relative speed with which the culprit was apprehended, was largely due to the public outcry. The sentence handed down had, however, proved to be no deterrent as distressing reports of abuse and violence involving children continued to surface, the commission lamented. “The public conscience was assailed by reports of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, the abuse and murder of children, violence towards women, child labour, religious intolerance, the persecution of minorities, and crimes committed in the name of honour.” Women, children and labour were said to remain highly vulnerable. Data collected by HRCP showed at least 845 incidents of sexual violence against women, and 316 crimes in the name of ‘honour’ perpetrated against both men and women. Meanwhile, 638 children had died of malnutrition in Thar, Sindh, last year. “Scores of mine workers lost their lives in deadly incidents in Balochistan and other provinces with no evidence of progress in the implementation of safety and health standards.” The HRCP regretted that an estimated 12 million children were reportedly involved in child labour. “Worryingly, an estimated 16,136 internally displaced families have yet to return home, although the number is likely higher,” it maintained. Nevertheless, the body also lauded the Supreme Court’s acquittal of Aasia Bibi as a bright prospect. Yet it expressed displeasure at the fact that the ensuing violence against the verdict could only be quelled when an ‘agreement’ was reached. “The excessive and arbitrary use of the Exit Control List (ECL) continued to feature prominently in the news.” Pre-emptive detention of activists was said to be frequently employed to restrict or disrupt rallies and protests, particularly in the months prior to the elections. According to HRCP, “While the interventions of the Supreme Court attracted much attention, the long-awaited reform of the criminal justice system remained on the back burner and the steady accumulation and growth of the backlog of cases went unchecked in all the courts.” By the end of 2018, there remained close to 1.9 million cases pending in over 250 lower, special and superior courts. At the end of the year, 4,688 prisoners were said to be on death row. At least 500 have been executed since 2014, 14 of them in 2018, HRCP added. The commission went on to remark, “Particularly notable during the year were the prolific and widely reported activities of the National Accountability Bureau, whose modus operandi was viewed with a mix of approbation and dismay.” “The axe fell on former prime ministers, politicians, media personalities, CEOs, and university officials alike,” it deplored. With reference to its co-founder who had passed away in February 2018, the body wondered, “Never was there a time more in need of the fearless, forthright Asma Jahangir.” “This tragic loss left the country bereft of a bold voice prepared to speak out for the underprivileged, the unrepresented, and the vulnerable,” it bewailed.