US lawmakers are expressing concern over the state of human rights in Pakistan.
Notable US legislator and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Bob Menendez, is among those voicing apprehension over the arrests and trials following the May 9 disruptions as Pakistan deals with significant political turbulence.
Senator Menendez has raised concerns about how leaders, workers, and advocates of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been treated following their arrest about the May 9 incident.
In a discussion with Pakistani-American doctor and Democratic congressional candidate Asif Mahmood, Senator Menendez stressed the US’s aspiration for stability rather than upheaval.
He articulated a profound concern about the predicament of innocent Pakistani Americans detained in Pakistan, vowing to continue promoting respect for human rights in the country.
During their conversation in California, Dr. Mahmood underscored to Senator Menendez the democratic and human rights crisis Pakistan faces, and he appealed for US intervention.
PTI USA Official Twitter shared a video of Senator Menendez in conversation with Dr. Mahmood, in which he stated, “We aim for stability, not chaos. And that entails upholding human rights and the rule of law.”
Meanwhile, PTI leaders in the US have also liaised with other American senators. Sajjad Burki and Atif Khan, leaders of the US arm of the PTI, met with Senator John Cornyn in Dallas, Texas. They reported that Senator Cornyn pledged to present the issue to the US Senate, intending to secure a bill with cross-party support and draw the attention of the US State Department.
Sheila Jackson, the head of the Pakistan caucus in the US House of Representatives, has also voiced unease over the reports coming out of Pakistan. She highlighted her concern over the lack of protection for peaceful protesters.
In a tweet, Congresswoman Jackson expressed her disquiet over the repeated arrests of the former head of state and the lack of mechanisms for a just response. She declared her plan to write to President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken, urging them to “insist on the cessation of these human rights abuses against the opposition and others.” In addition, she stressed the importance of nurturing US-Pakistan relations and promoting democracy in Pakistan.
These declarations from Senator Menendez, Senator Cornyn, and Congresswoman Jackson come as plans are underway for a conference on Pakistan’s human rights situation next month at Capitol Hill. The conference is set for the third week of June.
Being more active in the US than other Pakistani political groups, the PTI has engaged with numerous Congress members who are anticipated to attend the conference.
