ISLAMABAD: The World Justice Project has ranked Pakistan as the third-worst country for law and order out of a total of 142, as Islamabad grapples with surging militant attacks and suicide bombings in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan while rights activists accuse the government of clamping down on freedom of speech and expression.
The World Justice Project describes itself as an independent, multidisciplinary organization that is working to create knowledge, build awareness and stimulate action to advance the rule of law worldwide.
In its annual list released on Oct. 23, the WJP said rule of law has once again weakened in a majority of countries surveyed this year. Pakistan was ranked at 140 out of a total of 142 countries in its Order and Security criteria.
“Security is one of the defining aspects of any rule of law society and is a fundamental function of the state,” the WJP said. “It is also a precondition for the realization of the rights and freedoms that the rule of law seeks to advance.”
Only Mali, ranked at 141 and Nigeria, ranked at 142, were placed below Pakistan in the Order and Security index by the WJP.
The WJP ranked Pakistan at 129 out of 142 in the overall Rule of Law index. The overall rating is given by considering eight factors: Constraints on Government Powers, Absence of Corruption, Open Government, Fundamental rights, Order and Security, Regulatory Enforcement, Civil Justice and Criminal Justice.
The report ranked Pakistan at 103 for Constraints on Government Powers, 120 for Absence of Corruption, 106 for Open Government, 125 for Fundamental Rights, 127 for Regulatory Enforcement, 128 for Civil Justice and 98 for Criminal Justice.
The WJP said in its press release that a majority of countries had improved on ensuring effective criminal justice but authoritarian trends have continued to set them back on protecting human rights and democracy.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks since Nov. 22 in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan ever since its fragile truce with the Pakistani Taliban broke down. Separatist militants in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province have also increased attacks against security forces and civilians in recent months.
Meanwhile, opposition parties and rights activists have accused the government and Pakistan’s powerful military of using coercive tactics to suppress freedom of speech and their right to protest. Rights activists have also pointed to frequent Internet disruptions in the country, accusing the state of clamping down on people’s right to enjoy digital freedoms.
The government and Pakistan’s powerful military deny these allegations.
