Amnesty International is deeply alarmed by the lethal and targeted violence on offices, residences and election convoys of election candidates and political parties, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The two deadly attacks in Balochistan outside election offices today, leaving at least 24 dead, follow dozens of attacks in the last 30 days, including on 10 and 31 January 2024 resulting in the death of 2 candidates.
As Pakistan prepares for its General Election to be held tomorrow (8 February 2024), @amnesty is concerned about the pre-election violence, selective bans on protests and gatherings; harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention of party workers and candidates; media restrictions; internet and social media disruptions; and trials of political opponents with little due process.
Amnesty International urges the caretaker government to ensure compliance with its human rights obligations during and after the elections by:
- ensuring uninterrupted access to the internet;
- ending media restrictions;
- lifting all restrictions on assembly and protest;
- providing access to a fair trial and due process rights to all political opponents under Pakistan’s international human rights obligations; and
- conducting investigations into the targeted attacks on political workers and candidates, holding suspected perpetrators to account through fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.
