The Knowledge Forum (TKF) organised a webinar titled “Where Do We Go from Here? A Year of the Restricted State of Civic Freedoms in Pakistan” on December 23, 2024.
Human rights defenders, labour leaders, and freedom of expression advocates attended and called for a collective movement to safeguard fundamental freedoms in Pakistan, warning that civic spaces are rapidly shrinking under the current political environment.
The participants highlighted growing threats to civil liberties, media freedom, and workers’ rights despite the country’s transition to civilian rule.
The webinar brought together leading voices from various sectors, including human rights activist Uzma Noorani, senior journalist Iqbal Khattak from the Freedom Network, trade union leader Mirza Maqsood from the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), and human rights lawyer Ali Palh from the Sindh Human Rights Defenders Network. The discussion focused on how civil society organizations and activists are facing increasing repression and the urgent need for solidarity among different rights groups to reverse this trend.
Uzma Noorani, who has long been associated with the Women’s Action Forum, criticized the failure of the current political setup to protect fundamental rights. She pointed to recent incidents involving Baloch protesters and the curbing of public demonstrations as evidence that state institutions continue to suppress freedom of assembly. Noorani highlighted the challenges faced by youth movements, women’s rights advocates, and marginalized communities, noting that organizers of initiatives like the Aurat March face resistance from both state and non-state actors.
Senior journalist Iqbal Khattak presented data on the dangers facing Pakistan’s media landscape, revealing that 151 journalists have been killed between 2000 and 2025 — a figure averaging one death per month. He described the worsening environment for independent journalism, stressing that while new journalist protection laws have been passed, their enforcement remains inconsistent, especially in Sindh, which he described as the most dangerous province for journalists.
Trade unionist Mirza Maqsood outlined how privatization and restrictive legal reforms have systematically weakened labour unions, especially in sectors like banking. He urged unions to join forces with other political and social movements, emphasizing that labour rights have been sidelined by both the state and political parties.
Human rights lawyer Ali Palh discussed enforced disappearances as a tool used to silence dissent, noting a rise in cases of short-term abductions designed to intimidate activists. He called for comprehensive police reforms and urged Pakistan to sign international conventions such as the Rome Statute to combat these violations.
In her opening remarks, Zeenia Shaukat, Director of TKF, explained that the webinar was part of TKF’s broader effort to generate informed debate and knowledge production on pressing national issues. She highlighted the forum’s work, including the launch of the Pakistan Bulletin, which covers human rights, politics, economics, and climate change. The event concluded with a call for greater unity among civil society organizations, student groups, and labour movements to collectively defend civic freedoms and demand accountability from state institutions.
