Freedom of speech and expression

Political analysts argue that bot armies reflect deeper issues: a polarized society where winning the narrative matters more than policy substance. “Politics cannot be done by going viral with bot armies,” one parliamentarian remarked, emphasizing the need for authentic engagement.

As deliberations continue, the proposal highlights deeper questions about trust in Pakistan’s democratic institutions.

To combat the specific gendered harms caused by current practices, the HRCSL has strongly recommended the implementation of strict gender-sensitive policing protocols.

Civil society groups and Sufi organisations have urged the government to treat shrine attacks as a national security issue rather than isolated law-and-order problems.

The UN experts have urged the Taliban to reconsider the decree and align their legal framework with international standards, warning that failure to do so could deepen the country’s crisis and further erode public trust in state institutions.

Journalists who stay often do so because alternatives are scarce. Many have families to support and loans to repay.

As the programme rolls out, its success will likely be measured not only by how many clergy benefit financially but also by how well it navigates the complex terrain of religious pluralism in Bangladesh.

The rating places Pakistan among nations where freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression are systematically curtailed, despite constitutional guarantees and the country’s ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 2010.