FP Report
NEW YORK: Amnesty International has raised grave concerns over the surge in targeted violence against election candidates and political parties, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions of Pakistan. The recent attacks, including two deadly assaults outside election offices in Balochistan that resulted in the loss of at least 24 lives, add to a disturbing pattern of violence leading up to the General Election scheduled for tomorrow (8 February 2024). Amnesty highlights a series of troubling developments, including selective bans on protests, harassment and arbitrary detention of party workers and candidates, media restrictions, and disruptions in internet and social media services. Amidst these challenges, Amnesty calls on the caretaker government to uphold human rights obligations by ensuring uninterrupted internet access, lifting media restrictions, allowing free assembly and protest, ensuring fair trial rights for political opponents, and conducting thorough investigations into targeted attacks on political figures.
