US lawmakers call for suspending assistance to Pakistan over ‘human rights abuses’

ISLAMABAD: Around a dozen members of the United States (US) Congress have asked the State Department to suspend US assistance to Islamabad over “persistent reports of human rights abuses” in the South Asian country, it has emerged.

House representatives Ilhan Omar and Greg Casar, joined by nine other Congress members, made the demand in a letter written to the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, asking for a prompt review of whether the US security assistance to Pakistan had been used to violate human rights as well as to withhold future assistance until Pakistan completed its “return to constitutional democracy” and to send observers to hearings in human rights cases.

The letter mentioned alleged harassment of political opponents, including former prime minister Imran Khan, and groups, human rights defenders and journalists by authorities in the South Asian country, saying it violated fundamental rights of Pakistanis and undermined democracy.

“We are unable to ignore the persistent reports of human rights abuses, including restrictions on freedom of expression, speech, and religion and belief, as well as enforced disappearances, military courts, and harassment and arrest of political opponents and human rights defenders. These violations not only violate the fundamental rights of the Pakistani people but also undermine the principles of democracy, justice, and rule of law,” read the letter written on Nov 17.

“Equally, we remain concerned about the ongoing harassment and arrests of political opponents, including members of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement, and human rights defenders who are charged with bogus cases to trample their right to free speech. Such acts of harassment do not only impact individuals, but deeply traumatize their families. This includes the former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is reportedly facing the death penalty.”

Khan, who was ousted from power in a parliamentary no-trust vote, faces a slew of cases in Pakistan, with charges against him ranging from murder to sedition, which carries a death penalty. The former premier, who has been in prison since August this year, accuses the US of helping his rivals in Pakistani topple his government.

Cases of “enforced disappearances” of citizens have long plagued Pakistan, where militants have waged a war against the state for decades. Families say people picked up by security forces often disappear for years, and are sometimes found dead, with no official explanation. Pakistani security agencies deny involvement in such disappearances.

The US lawmakers observed that this year had seen a “significant and tragic backsliding” in the situation of human rights in Pakistan.

“Given the above, we request a legal determination from the Department under the Leahy Laws, Section 502(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act, and all other relevant statutes as to whether US-origin security assistance has been used for gross violations of human rights,” they said.

“We believe that the United States can play a constructive role in supporting positive change, and it is our hope that our cooperation can contribute to a more just and equitable future for the people of Pakistan.”