US congressman ‘alarmed’ at rights violations in Pakistan

US Democratic party Congressman Brad Sherman expressed concern on Sunday over the alleged persecution of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers as well as journalists over the past year.

In a video message, the Congressman from California noted that the US and Pakistan enjoyed a strong relationship over the past many decades and urged the US administration to support democracy and human rights in the country.

Earlier in the day, Sherman said in a tweet that he met with Democratic candidate for a Congress seat from California, Dr Asif Mahmood, as well as spoke to former prime minister Imran Khan and discussed with them the situation in Pakistan.

Later, in his video message, which was shared by the PTI on its Twitter handle, Sherman sounded alarm over what he said, the “alleged custodial torture and sexual abuse of political figures” such as PTI leaders Shahbaz Gill and Azam Swati.

“It is not the role of the United States to involve itself in Pakistan’s internal governmental matters with respect to Pakistan’s constitutional and democratic process, but we must not shy away from raising our voices for human rights and democracy in Pakistan,” he said.

“America must support democracy and human rights around the world and particularly in Pakistan,” he pointed out. “The government of Pakistan and every government should respect the right of people to speak, the right to organise, the right to demonstrate.”

The congressman stated that everyone wanted to see a “calm, orderly, democratic and prosperous Pakistan where Pakistanis can have the freedom to have an open and political dialogue”.

He went on to say that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) — with whom Pakistan was currently holding talks for the revival of long-delayed loan programme — also wanted to see a stable Pakistan that followed the rule of law.

Sherman highlighted that Pakistan was facing a host of internal and external challenges, but stressed that the growing extremism, intolerance, and dissent were threatening Pakistan’s prospects for social cohesion.

He also mentioned the recent bombing at the Peshawar Police Lines mosque in which over 80 people were martyred. “The inability of state institutions to reliably provide peaceful ways to resolve grievances is the vacuum, being exploited by extremism.”

Sherman also mentioned the “brutal deaths” of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya last year and PTI worker Zille Shah during the March 8 election rally in Lahore.

“This is not what you would like to see in a democratic country,” he said.

He slammed the ban on the broadcast of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s speeches.

“Now I am not here to support any political office in Pakistan…” he said, “I am advocating for the freedom of speech, due process and the even application of the rule of law”.

The congressman urged the authorities in Pakistan to investigate the alleged abuses and hold accountable those responsible.

“We urge the [Pakistani] authorities to make sure that going forward people are free and we don’t see political figures and citizens who simply want to participate in the process subjected to anti-democratic acts.”