Washington, Dec. 4 (LatestNewsX) – In a bipartisan letter, 42 U.S. lawmakers led by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Representative Greg Casar urged the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to act decisively against what they called a growing campaign of “transnational repression” and systematic human‑rights abuses in Pakistan.
The lawmakers described Pakistan as slipping into an authoritarian crisis, with its democratic institutions and basic freedoms steadily eroded. They argue that the United States has both the responsibility and the tools to hold Pakistan’s military leadership accountable.
Key points in the December 3 letter include:
– A call for the Administration to quickly impose targeted measures—such as visa bans and asset freezes—on officials who are actively engaged in systematic repression, transnational repression, and the undermining of judicial independence.
– A warning that U.S. citizens and residents who criticize authoritarian practices in Pakistan are often threatened, intimidated, and harassed, sometimes with repercussions that extend to family members overseas. These tactics, the lawmakers say, involve arbitrary detentions, coercion, and retaliatory violence, infringing on freedom of expression and setting a dangerous precedent for foreign interference on U.S. soil.
The letter stresses that immediate and concrete action is required, including accountability for Pakistan’s powerful military establishment and pressure for the release of political prisoners.
The lawmakers highlighted several specific cases to illustrate the severity of the repression:
– Civilian‑rights reporter Ahmed Noorani, whose brothers were abducted, beaten, and held in Islamabad after he published a story exposing military corruption.
– Pakistani American musician Salman Ahmad, who received direct intimidation from the military, including threats against his family in both the United States and Pakistan, and whose brother‑in‑law was seized and held without charge until intervention by the State Department and FBI.
According to the signatories, repression in Pakistan has surged: opposition figures are arrested without charges, journalists are abducted or forced into exile, and ordinary citizens face detention over simple social‑media posts. Women, minority groups, and ethnic minorities—especially in Balochistan—are disproportionately targeted. The letter portrays this as a calculated effort to crush civil society and silence all opposition to military rule.
They described the 2024 elections as improperly conducted and the resulting civilian government as a “pliant facade” imposed under military pressure. The Supreme Court, already under military influence, has authorized trying civilians in military courts, effectively stripping judicial independence.
The lawmakers specifically called on Rubio to explore visa bans and asset freezes under the Global Magnitsky Act, naming Army Chief Asim Munir as a central figure in the crackdown. They asked whether former President Trump had addressed human‑rights concerns during his January 2024 meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his July visit to the military. The letter sought clarity on the conditions that would trigger sanctions, steps to protect U.S. residents from threats, and how U.S. engagement with Pakistan’s military could avoid signaling tacit support for authoritarianism.
In addition, the letter urged the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and other political prisoners as a show of U.S. commitment to human rights and regional stability.
Signatories include Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rashida Tlaib, Jamie Raskin, Yvette D. Clarke, Madeleine Dean, Lloyd Doggett, Jan Schakowsky, Eric Swalwell, Bennie G. Thompson, Judy Chu, Zoe Lofgren, Sarah McBride, Summer Lee, Ilhan Omar, and Maxine Waters.
Imran Khan has been incarcerated since 2023 amid a series of politically charged cases. International human‑rights bodies and U.N. experts have also expressed alarm over the treatment of Baloch activists and the overall erosion of civilian oversight in Pakistan.
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