US Congress panel to hold hearing on 'political repression in Pakistan'
The US Capitol Dome is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington January 14, 2010. PHOTO: REUTERS
The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US Congress will hold a hearing to examine the 'ongoing repression of political opposition' in Pakistan, according to an announcement posted on the Commission’s official website.
The hearing, scheduled to be held in person and streamed online, will focus on actions by the Pakistani government that allegedly restrict political freedoms, including the treatment of opposition political figures, suppression of independent journalism, and controls over media and communication.
Hearing Notice -- Pakistan: Ongoing Political Repression
Date: Tuesday, July 15th, 2025
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Location: Rayburn 2255
Details: https://t.co/VpI1m5Wp8cThe Commission stated that it will assess the implications of these actions for democracy and human rights in Pakistan. It is tasked with promoting, defending, and advocating for international human rights as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other key human rights frameworks.
According to the announcement, many observers trace the current phase of repression to 2022, when then-prime minister Imran Khan was removed from office, later convicted of corruption, and imprisoned.
The US State Department’s 2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices highlights several human rights concerns in Pakistan, including enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, and transnational repression.
The Commission noted that Pakistan’s general elections in February 2024 were marked by “undue restrictions on freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly,” as well as incidents of electoral violence and interference with fundamental rights, as outlined in a statement by the US State Department.
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to testify on the state of #HumanRights in #Pakistan before the @TLHumanRights Commission in the #US #Congress.
I will be highlighting the arbitrary detention of Imran Khan, his wife, and other political prisoners, as well as the erosion… pic.twitter.com/0KgQlsNqpKWitnesses scheduled to testify include Ben Linden of Amnesty International, human rights lawyer Jared Genser, Sadiq Amini of the Afghanistan Impact Network, and Zulfikar Bukhari, an advisor to Imran Khan.
The hearing is open to Members of Congress, staff, the public, and media. It will be streamed live on the Commission’s website and on the House digital channel.