As Rimmel Mohydin, the regional campaigner at Amnesty International, rightly pointed out, the use of force by the state must be no further than necessary and proportionate. The authorities must exercise restraint and use minimum force without resorting to the use of firearms to disperse protestors. It is also essential that arbitrary arrests are not made, and there is reasonable suspicion of criminality for each arrest.
The indefinite ban on mobile internet and social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube is an alarming development. It is a clear violation of people’s right to access information and free expression. It creates a permissive environment for other human rights violations to occur under the guise of the internet shutdown. Therefore, it is imperative that the restrictions are lifted immediately.
The situation in Pakistan highlights the importance of upholding human rights, including the right to access information and free expression, and the need for restraint and proportionality in the use of force by the state. These are fundamental values that must be protected and upheld in all situations.
Furthermore, the situation in Pakistan highlights the need for international organizations to take a more active role in ensuring the protection of human rights globally. Governments worldwide must recognize and respect the rights of their citizens and uphold their commitments to international human rights standards.
In conclusion, the situation in Pakistan demands urgent attention and action from the international community to protect the human rights of the Pakistani people. The Pakistani authorities must exercise restraint and lift the restrictions on internet access immediately to prevent further escalation of the situation. At the same time, the international community must continue to advocate for the protection of human rights worldwide.
<< photo by Andrea Piacquadio >>