Human Rights Commission of Pakistan report shows mirror to Gallup report on Global Law and Order that puts Pakistan ahead of India on law and order issue

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New Delhi: If one were to go by the famed US Pollster agency Gallup ‘Global Law and Order 2022’, then Pakistan ranks 82^nd and US 83^rd, way above India which has been ranked 80^th when it comes to its global Law-and-Order Index Score. However, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) ‘A Breach of Faith – Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2021-22’ punctures the conclusions drawn by Gallup in its survey.

Besides the current lawlessness inside Pakistan arising out of acute shortage of food and other essential items, the actions of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) inside Pakistan punctures the claims made by Gallup in its global report.

Gallup in the same report ranks the United Kingdom (with its famed Scotland Yard police) at 79, followed by the Russian Federation at 77, Afghanistan at 51. What is intriguing to find is that a Central Asian republic like Tajikistan is ranked 95, second only to Singapore which is ranked first with a score of 96. What is even eyebrow raising is that Gallup treats Taiwan as a Province of China!

Gallup has come up with its 18-page law and order index based on interviews with nearly 1,27,000 adults in more than 120 countries and areas in 2021. Ironically, the report does not include China, but includes Hong Kong, SAR of China.

As per the Gallup law and order index, the 10 countries with highest scores include – Singapore 96, Tajikistan 95, Norway 93, Switzerland 92, Indonesia 92, Egypt 92, UAE 92, Finland 91, Iceland 91 and Portugal 91.

The list of 10 countries with lowest scores include – Kenya 63, Mali 63, Cameroon 62, South Africa 61, Uganda 60, Zambia 59, Sierra Leone 59, Republic of the Congo 58, Venezuela 55, Gabon 54 and Afghanistan 51.

The HRCP in its 19-page report has observed with considerable alarm several developments during 2021-22 that belie the state’s commitment to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FORB). “The incidence of forced conversions in Sindh has remained worryingly consistent”, observes HRCP in its report.

Among the 14 recommendations made by the HRCP include – implementation of the 2014 Pakistan Supreme Court Jillani judgment that lays down well-articulated framework for realising the right to FORB in Pakistan; an autonomous, nationally representative commission for religious minorities must be set up through an act of Parliament,… it should include overlooked groups such as the Buddhist, Parsi, Bahai community and Schedule Castes.

The recommendations also include – Legislation against forced conversions must be enacted as soon as possible; the low threshold of evidence for blasphemy must be raised to ensure that the laws in question are not weaponized by people to settle personal vendettas; in legal cases involving members of religious minorities, those accused must be guaranteed their right to fair trial, with no discrimination based on faith.