US Lawmakers Urge Tough Action on Pakistan Over Human Rights Violation

In a sharp escalation of congressional scrutiny of Pakistan’s human rights record, 42 members of the US House of Representatives have called on the Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take punitive action against senior Pakistani officials accused of orchestrating a widening campaign of repression at home and abroad.

The bipartisan group, led by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Congressman Greg Casar, issued a letter on December 3 urging Secretary of State Marcos Rubio to respond decisively to what they termed a “deepening authoritarian crisis” in Pakistan. Their appeal urges the administration to consider visa bans, asset freezes, and other sanctions against military and government figures implicated in rights abuses and efforts to silence critics living in the United States.

According to the signatories, Pakistan’s security establishment has increasingly targeted dissidents — including American citizens and residents — through intimidation, harassment, and coercion that extend across borders. Lawmakers warn that such actions threaten free speech, undermine democratic norms, and set a dangerous international precedent.

Accusations of Threats on US Soil

The letter details several high-profile cases involving Pakistani Americans who allegedly faced retaliation for speaking out. Among them is Virginia-based investigative journalist Ahmed Noorani, whose brothers were reportedly abducted and assaulted in Islamabad after Noorani published work critical of military corruption. His case has been cited by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and major international watchdogs.

Another example highlighted is Pakistani American musician Salman Ahmad, who lawmakers say endured direct threats from Pakistani military officials. His family was also targeted, with his brother-in-law allegedly detained without charge until US authorities intervened.

“These incidents make clear that Pakistan’s security apparatus is willing to intimidate individuals far beyond its borders,” the lawmakers wrote, stressing that US institutions must protect residents from foreign coercion.

Alleged Crackdown Inside Pakistan

The lawmakers’ concerns extend well beyond diaspora communities. They describe a growing pattern of arrests, disappearances, and censorship inside Pakistan, particularly since the contested 2024 elections, which rights groups and the US State Department criticised for irregularities. Opposition politicians have been jailed without formal charges, journalists pushed into exile, and activists — especially women, minority groups, and Baloch communities — subjected to disproportionate state force.

They argue that Pakistan’s military has tightened its grip over civilian institutions, pointing to a Supreme Court decision authorising military trials for civilians — a move critics say erases judicial independence entirely.

Calls for Accountability at the Highest Levels

The letter singles out Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, questioning his role in the alleged crackdown and asking whether sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act are being considered. Lawmakers also queried whether President Trump raised human rights concerns in meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in September and with Munir in July.

In addition to sanctions, the group pressed the administration to support the release of political prisoners, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since 2023 in cases widely described as politically motivated.