LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed its serious concern over the ransacking of human rights activist Marvi Sirmed’s home in Islamabad.
In a statement titled “constant bullying of activists is unacceptable” on Saturday, the commission said: “Our council member Marvi Sirmed’s long-standing record as a human rights defender speaks for itself in an environment that is increasingly hostile to criticism, much less dissent. That the family’s travel documents were stolen along with their laptops and smartphone, and their home so deliberately ransacked, are not the marks of commonplace burglary.”
“This is not the first time that Ms Sirmed has been harassed in connection with her human rights work. That this follows on the heels of several incidents involving the intimidation of other human rights workers is not something the state can afford to ignore. HRCP condemns any action by state agencies or actors to harass human rights defenders in Pakistan and obstruct their work.”
“It also goes without saying that HRCP has the right to hold the authorities responsible for any attempt by state or non-state actors to harass any persons associated with the Commission. We strongly urge the federal government to apprehend the culprits and establish their identity as well as to investigate the possible involvement of rogue elements,” the statement concludes.
