Abdul Karim Wazir

Pakistani human rights advocate exposing government surveillance abuses

Abdul Karim Wazir (1980-2016) was a Pakistani human rights defender who courageously exposed state surveillance abuses in Balochistan. A lawyer by training, he co-founded the Baloch Human Rights Organization (BHRO) in 2005 to document human rights violations and advocate for marginalized communities. His investigations revealed systematic torture, disappearances, and illegal surveillance by security forces targeting Baloch activists.

In 2011, Wazir published Shadow War: Surveillance and Repression in Balochistan, the first comprehensive report detailing how the Pakistani intelligence agency used spyware to monitor activists' communications. His work inspired global awareness campaigns by organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Despite receiving multiple death threats, Wazir continued his advocacy until his assassination in 2016. His legacy lives on through the Abdul Karim Wazir Memorial Award, given annually to journalists fighting for digital privacy rights. His case remains a landmark in the fight against state-sponsored surveillance, influencing debates at forums like the UN Human Rights Council.

His story was chronicled in the 2020 documentary Whistleblower in the Shadows and his writings are archived at HRW Digital Library. Wazir's courage to confront power structures makes him a symbol of resilience in the face of oppression.