The European Commission’s latest GSP+ report has revived a familiar debate. The question is not whether Pakistan should continue improving its human rights record. That is an obligation every state owes to its own citizens. The real issue is whether the same standards are applied everywhere, or whether human rights have increasingly become a tool of political convenience.
Across much of the developing world, especially in Muslim-majority countries, many now view human rights reports with growing scepticism. Time and again, the same countries appear in the spotlight, the same allegations are repeated, and the same conclusions are drawn. Meanwhile, equally serious concerns elsewhere often receive far less attention. That imbalance raises legitimate questions about consistency.
Europe frequently speaks as a champion of democracy and human rights. With that role comes an equally important responsibility: to subject its own record to the same scrutiny it expects from others. Accountability cannot be credible if it flows in only one direction.
The experience of Muslims in several European countries illustrates why this debate refuses to fade. Over the past two decades, restrictions on visible expressions of Islamic identity have steadily expanded. Measures affecting the hijab, the face veil and the abaya have been justified on various legal and political grounds. Yet many Muslims see them as limits on their religious freedom rather than safeguards of secularism.
Human rights do not belong to Europe, Asia or any other region. They belong to humanity.
Nor does the discussion end there. Islamophobia has become an undeniable reality across parts of Europe. Mosques have been vandalised, copies of the Holy Qur’an publicly desecrated, and anti-Muslim rhetoric has found increasing space in mainstream politics. International organisations have repeatedly warned about these trends. If these developments deserve concern within Europe, they should carry the same weight as concerns raised elsewhere.
Pakistan, on the other hand, is often discussed through a single lens. No one denies that shortcomings exist or that reforms must continue. At the same time, the country also has constitutional protections for religious minorities, while churches, Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras continue to function across Pakistan. A balanced assessment should acknowledge both the challenges and the progress.
Another question deserves attention. Much of the material used in international reports originates from non-governmental organisations. Their contribution is important, but their findings should not become the only basis for judging an entire country. Judicial reforms, legislative changes, constitutional guarantees and institutional improvements also form part of the picture and should receive equal consideration.
Europe’s own foreign policy record further complicates its claim to moral leadership. From the legacy of colonialism to the handling of migration and the continuing tragedy in Gaza, Europe has faced difficult human rights questions of its own. Thousands of migrants have died trying to reach European shores, while the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deepened accusations that human rights are sometimes defended selectively.
This is why many countries are asking a simple question: if human rights are truly universal, shouldn’t they be measured by the same yardstick everywhere? Discrimination against minorities in Asia deserves attention, but discrimination against Muslims in Europe deserves no less. Universal values lose credibility when they are applied selectively.
Human rights do not belong to Europe, Asia or any other region. They belong to humanity. Pakistan and the European Union should continue engaging on these issues, but that dialogue will carry weight only when fairness replaces selectivity and one standard applies to all.
The writer is a columnist.