The government of Pakistan is silencing increasingly the critical voices of journalists, activists, and academics under the pretext of national security. Enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture have taken place with impunity, while security forces exercise undue political influence over civilian authorities. Blasphemy-related violence against religious minorities, fostered in part by government persecution and discriminatory laws, is frequent, and authorities have failed to establish adequate protection for universities.

(Last updated: October 30, 2021)