The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has issued a correction to its statement regarding the recent rally held in Bannu demanding an end to militancy.
The initial statement, released on 19 July 2024, erroneously reported that five individuals had been killed due to firing by security forces. The HRCP has since acknowledged that this death toll was released without proper confirmation.
In their corrected statement, the HRCP has expressed regret over the error, emphasizing their support for the rally’s call for peace.
The commission attributed the misinformation to an unverified tweet posted by a staff member acting without the necessary approval from the chain of command. This incident has spotlighted concerns about the HRCP’s internal processes and the need for more rigorous staff training.
The misstep has elicited sharp criticism from journalists and social media users, who have questioned the HRCP’s credibility and accuracy. The correction by the commission came in response to heightened scrutiny from the Pakistani media, which played a crucial role in bringing the discrepancy to light.
Experts argue that such errors underline the necessity for HRCP and similar organizations to ensure thorough verification before issuing statements. They also call for a more disciplined approach to information dissemination and staff management within these institutions.
