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US Congressman Brad Sherman has expressed concerns over the continuous violation of human rights and democracy in Pakistan and the persecution of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers as well as journalists over the past year.
In a video message, the representative for California’s 32nd congressional district noted that the US and Pakistan have enjoyed a strong relationship since the 1940s.
2/3 pic.twitter.com/Ckrddijn5k
— Musarrat Cheema (@MusarratCheema) March 12, 2023
“America must support democracy and human rights around the world and particularly in Pakistan,” he said, adding that this was also in line with the wishes of the IMF –the global money lender with whom Pakistan seeks the revival of a long-delayed bailout package.
Pleased @DrMahmood40 was able to come to my home today to discuss recent developments in #Pakistan.
Also pleased that former PM Kahn took the time to discuss issues with us by phone.
Will soon release our video statement.
— Congressman Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) March 11, 2023
Listing down a host of challenges that the country faces, Sherman stressed that what was most alarming for him were the events of the past year, including the “alleged custodial torture and sexual abuse of political figures such as [former] prime minister Imran Khan’s chief of staff Shahbaz Gill and the journalist Jameel Farooqui”.
“More recently, we mourn the death of the journalist Arshad Sharif and the political worker Zille Shah [Ali Bilal],” he added.
Earlier, he tweeted that he spoke over the phone with former prime minister Imran Khan and met Dr Asif Mehmood, a Pakistani philanthropist and Democratic candidate running against Young Kim in the state’s 40th congressional district.
Sherman highlighted that the country was facing a host of internal and external challenges, saying that growing extremism, intolerance, and dissent were threatening Pakistan’s prospects for social cohesion.
