U.S. Congressman has published concerns regarding human rights and democracy in Pakistan

14-04-2023

Author: Anandi Sweere

Team Pakistan Intern, 

Global Human Rights Defence

U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman wrote a letter to the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in which he outlined issues regarding democracy and human rights in Pakistan (Haider, 2023). Sherman is a Californian Democrat and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (Gupta, 2023). In a tweet he publicly shared his letter and acknowledged that he had recently spoken with the former prime minister and PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) chief Imran Khan (Sherman (a), 2023; Gupta, 2023). In the three-page letter he described that “it is in the U.S. national interest to support human rights in Pakistan”. Sherman specifically calls attention to the importance of the right to demonstrate and politically organize (Sherman (b), 2023). 

He highlighted several recent incidents in his letter, stating that he is “particularly alarmed by incidents over the last year, especially the alleged torture and sexual abuse of political figures such as former PM Khan’s Chief of Staff Shahbaz Gill and journalist Jameel Farooqui” (Sherman (b), 2023). Additionally, he mentions the court cases that are ongoing against Khan himself as threatening political freedom. He also considers the delay in elections in two provinces as damaging the democratic process and urges Blinken to have “foreign law experts at the State Department” look into the court cases that have been part of this delay to check for their legality (Sherman (b), 2023; Abbas, 2023). 

Overall, Sherman asks Blinken to use U.S. diplomacy to pressure the Pakistani authorities to investigate and prevent human rights abuses and to urge for quick and full democratic elections (Haider, 2023). Sherman ends his letter by saying that “the U.S.-Pakistani relationship is one of the most important foreign policy relationships and accordingly should reflect U.S. priorities regarding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Pakistan.” (Sherman (b), 2023).

Sources:

Haider, N. (2023, April 12). In letter to Antony Blinken, US lawmaker highlights ‘human rights, democracy’ issues in Pakistan. Geo News. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://www.geo.tv/latest/481654-in-letter-to-antony-blinken-us-lawmaker-highlights-human-rights-democracy-issues-in-pakistan 

Gupta, M. (2023, April 12). Congressman Sherman Highlights Pakistan’s Human Rights Abuses in Letter to Blinken. News 18. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://www.news18.com/world/congressman-sherman-highlights-pakistans-human-rights-abuses-in-letter-to-blinken-7529773.html

Abbas, M. (2023, April 12). US Congressman Brad Sherman Urges Secretary of State Blinken to Address Human Rights and Democracy Concerns in Pakistan. BNN.  Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://bnn.network/breaking-news/us-congressman-brad-sherman-urges-secretary-of-state-blinken-to-address-human-rights-and-democracy-concerns-in-pakistan/

Sherman, B (a). [@BradSherman]. (2023, April 11). See below my letter to @SecBlinken regarding Democracy in #Pakistan. Thanks @DrMahmood40 for being such a good adviser, and also for arranging my most recent telephone call with #ImranKhan. [Tweet]. Twitter. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://twitter.com/BradSherman/status/1645915382686027778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1645915382686027778%7Ctwgr%5E0b73f0acf5452fd8fc13dc3cc130400573636468%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geo.tv%2Flatest%2F481654-in-letter-to-antony-blinken-us-lawmaker-highlights-human-rights-democracy-issues-in-pakistan 

Sherman, B (b). (2023, April 11). [Letter from Congressman Brad Sherman to The Honorable Antony J. Blinken, 2023]. Retrieved April 14, 2023, from  https://twitter.com/BradSherman/status/1645915382686027778/photo/1