On May 7, 2014, Rashid Rehman Khan, a prominent human rights lawyer, was fatally shot inside his office in Multan. The killing was widely seen as a targeted assassination following months of escalating threats linked to his defense work in a sensitive blasphemy case.
Rehman, who also served as a regional coordinator for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, was attacked by two armed assailants who entered his chamber on Kutchery Road and opened fire. He succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital. Two of his colleagues, lawyers Nadeem Parvaz and Fazal Baloch, were wounded in the attack, while the gunmen managed to flee the scene.
He was representing Junaid Hafeez, a university lecturer accused in a high-profile blasphemy case at Bahauddin Zakariya University. This case was considered highly sensitive within Pakistan’s legal and religious context.
Human rights monitors documented that Rehman had repeatedly alerted authorities about threats against him due to his involvement in the case. In April 2014, during court proceedings, he reportedly received direct death threats, with individuals warning he “would not exist anymore” if he continued his defense work.
Despite these warnings, no protective measures were implemented. Complaints filed by Rehman and other lawyers with bar associations, police, and provincial officials went unaddressed. The absence of security was particularly alarming given the severity of the threats.
The case had already faced intense pressure, as earlier lawyers withdrew after receiving extremist threats, leaving Rehman among the few willing to continue representing the accused.
In the aftermath of the assassination, human rights organizations condemned the killing, framing it as part of a broader pattern of violence against lawyers and activists challenging Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Investigators initially treated the murder as a targeted attack, but the slow progress in identifying and prosecuting suspects drew criticism.
Reports noted that despite prior knowledge of threats, authorities failed to take action against those who intimidated Rehman. Observers also highlighted a pervasive climate of fear, pointing out that several members of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan had been killed in recent years, with most cases remaining unresolved.
Calls were made for a transparent and independent investigation, better protection for human rights defenders, and accountability for those responsible for threats and violence.
Now, twelve years later, Rashid Rehman Khan’s assassination remains a stark reminder of the dangers faced by human rights advocates in Pakistan, especially those involved in blasphemy-related cases, where legal defense continues to carry significant personal risk.
