A group of 44 members of the United States Congress, in a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has raised serious concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Pakistan. They are urging the Trump administration to take swift diplomatic measures in response.
The letter, led by Democratic Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Greg Casar, states, “We write to express urgent concern over the escalating campaign of transnational repression and worsening human rights crisis in Pakistan.” It highlights that in recent years, US citizens and residents who have spoken out against alleged abuses in Pakistan have faced threats, intimidation, and harassment. These tactics often extend to their families within Pakistan through “arbitrary detentions, coercion, and retaliatory violence.”
The lawmakers argue that these actions violate Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. They emphasise that the US‑Pakistan partnership on counterterrorism remains vital to national security. However, it must rest on a mutual commitment to human rights, democratic governance, and the rule of law.
44 Democratic members of the US House of Representatives have written to Secretary Marco Rubio, demanding immediate sanctions on Pakistani officials over an “escalating campaign of transnational repression & worsening human rights crisis in Pakistan https://t.co/jisGAnXdhk
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) December 5, 2025The letter calls for concrete action, urging the State Department to “swiftly impose targeted measures, including visa bans and asset freezes. These should be against officials responsible for transnational repression, widespread human rights violations, and systematic repression in Pakistan.” The signatories, who include Representatives Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Ro Khanna, and Steve Cohen, stress that the same principled approach applied to other nations must be upheld concerning Pakistan.
The communication delivers a stark critique of Pakistan’s internal affairs by alleging that the authorities maintain an authoritarian system through relentless repression. It asserts that security and law-enforcement agencies detain opposition leaders without charge and deny them fair trials. Additionally, it claims officials intimidate independent journalists or push them into exile. The state is driving an escalating authoritarian crisis, systematically dismantling democratic institutions and fundamental freedoms.
