Pakistan Rated ‘Partly Free’ in Freedom House Report
Pakistan has been classified as a “partly free” nation in the latest Freedom in the World 2024 report by Freedom House, receiving a score of 35 out of 100 for political rights and civil liberties. This marks a decline from its previous score of 37, with Pakistan earning 14 out of 40 points for political rights and 21 out of 60 for civil liberties.
According to the report, while Pakistan conducts regular elections within a multiparty system, the military holds significant influence over governance, policies, and media. The report highlights how military dominance has led to intimidation tactics and unchecked use of force.
The increasing friction between Pakistan’s military and civilian leadership has been a key issue in recent years. The report cites the 2022 removal of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and the legal charges against him as examples of this growing conflict. Additionally, restrictions on civil liberties remain a major concern.
Global Freedom Trends and Regional Highlights
Freedom House noted that 2023 saw a continued global decline in democracy, with authoritarian regimes consolidating power. However, there were notable improvements in South Asia, with some nations making significant progress.
The Washington-based pro-democracy organization upgraded Senegal and Bhutan to “free” status. Senegal saw a democratic victory as opposition leaders prevented an election delay, while Bhutan continued its transition to democracy with competitive elections. Bhutan remains the only South Asian country classified as “free.”
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also made progress in the rankings, though they remained in the same categories. Bangladesh saw political shifts after growing opposition to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, while Sri Lanka elected Anura Kumara Dissanayake on an anti-corruption platform, breaking the long-standing dominance of traditional political parties.
India’s Decline and Other Global Changes
The report noted India’s democratic erosion, attributing it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s increasing influence over judicial appointments. India was downgraded to “partly free” in 2021, and the situation has worsened since.
According to Yana Gorokhovskaia, co-author of the report, 2024 was marked by extreme political volatility due to numerous elections worldwide. She emphasized that while some regions saw improvements in civil liberties, political rights take longer to strengthen as they rely on robust institutions.
Among rare positive developments in the Middle East, Jordan was upgraded to “partly free” due to reforms that improved electoral competitiveness. However, several countries saw democratic backsliding, with Kuwait, Niger, Tanzania, and Thailand downgraded to “not free.”
Tunisia, El Salvador, and Haiti also experienced steep declines in democratic freedoms. Niger fell under full military rule following the 2023 coup that ousted Mohamed Bazoum, while Thailand’s courts dissolved the leading political party and dismissed its prime minister after pressure from military-backed senators.
The World’s Freest Nations
Finland was the only country to receive a perfect 100 score, followed closely by New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden, each scoring 99.
Freedom House, founded in 1941, operates with bipartisan support in the U.S. and receives government funding. However, the organization has faced budget constraints due to funding freezes initiated during Donald Trump’s presidency.
