Pak rights body condemns 'burglary-style raid' at its editor's house

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) today claimed that a "burglary-style raid" was conducted at the residence of the editor of its annual report, which was highly critical of the country's state of human rights in 2017.

Editor Maryam Hasan's house in Lahore was "raided" last night as two armed men broke into her residence, said a statement issued by the rights watchdog.

"It was a burglary-style raid on the house of Maryam Hasan, who edited the HRCP 2017 report...The two 'burglars' took away her laptop, phones, two hard drives, jewellery and some cash," the HRCP said in the statement.

Hasan was also questioned about her professional engagements and intimidated in a "roundabout manner" by the "assailants", it added.

The HRCP warned that the provincial authorities will be held responsible for any further attempts by state or non-state actors to harass any persons associated with the commission.

The report - State of Human Rights in 2017 - was released last week highlighting increase in enforced disappearances and targeted violence against soft targets and raised the issue of curbs on freedoms of expression and association.

Over 300 cases of missing persons reported last year, according to the report.

"Journalists and bloggers continue to sustain threats, attacks and abductions and blasphemy law serves to coerce people into silence, the report said.