The Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan has condoled and condemned the brutal killing of
Zarteef Afridi, HRCP coordinator in Khyber Agency, and called upon the
government to apprehend his killers and address growing threats facing
human rights defenders in the region.
In a statement issued on
Thursday, the Commission said: “HRCP is grieved at the murder earlier
today of Zarteef Afridi in Khyber Agency. Zarteef was a tireless human
rights defender who dedicated his life to promoting human rights,
tolerance and peace in a region beset with conflict. Repeated threats to
his life had failed to deter him from his work. In his death, the civil
society has lost a committed campaigner for the cause of human rights.
HRCP is grieved at his death and condoles with Zarteef’s family at their
loss.
Zarteef’s murder also
underscores the escalating threats that those working for human rights
face in Pakistan, particularly in the tribal areas. HRCP calls upon the
government to realize its duty to do everything within its power to
apprehend Zarteef’s killers and show through its actions in the next few
days its commitment to protect and facilitate human rights defenders.”
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