Concerned over human rights abuse, religious discrimination in Pakistan: US

It urged the Pakistani government to uphold the rule of law and the freedoms enshrined in the country’s Constitution

Describing shrinking space for civil society and media freedom in Pakistan as “troubling”, the United States on Tuesday said it remains “deeply concerned” over reports of human rights abuses and discrimination faced by people in the country because of their faith. It urged the Pakistani government to uphold the rule of law and the freedoms enshrined in the country’s Constitution.

Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice G Wells in a prepared statement to Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation of the House Foreign Affairs Committee hoped that the reforms Pakistan is undertaking under its current IMF plan will lay the foundation for better economic management and growth, leading to an improvement in the democratic system and human rights situation.

“In recent years, we have observed some troubling trends within Pakistan, including shrinking space for civil society and media freedom. Pressure on the media and civil society including harassment, threats, and financial and regulatory action, has increased over the past year,” she said in a prepared statement submitted to the Congressional subcommittee on the eve of the hearing “Human Rights in South Asia: Views from the State Department and the Region”…