Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as the country’s first Chief of Defense Forces. His tenure will be for 5 years. The President approved the recommendation sent by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Munir for the posts of both Army Chief and Chief of Defense Forces. Rashtrapati Bhavan wrote in its official post that Asim Munir has been appointed to both the posts simultaneously for the next five years.
44 American lawmakers mobilized against repression in Pakistan
Recently, more than 40 American lawmakers have raised their voice against the atrocities being committed on the people in Pakistan. In a letter written to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, these MPs said that the Pakistani government under the control of Army Chief Asim Munir is openly adopting repressive policies. Civil society is being crushed. Every voice challenging the military rule is being eliminated. Some top officials are also involved in this act of repression.
MPs have asked the US government why steps like visa ban and property confiscation were not taken against people like Asim Munir who are guilty of this situation. MPs have demanded a ban on all these officials from entering America. The lawmakers who wrote the letter include 44 names like US Congress’ Pramila Jayapal, Rashida Tlaib and Greg Kaiser.
This letter has come out at a time when a major amendment has been made in the Constitution of Pakistan recently. Under this, Army Chief Asim Munir has been given unlimited powers.
American citizens and their families are being harassed
In the letter, the lawmakers said that American citizens and their families who have raised their voice against totalitarian atrocities in Pakistan are facing threats and harassment. They are being kept in arbitrary detention. Along with coercion, violence was also done to them. These incidents are a violation of international law related to civil and political rights. Democratic institutions and fundamental freedoms are being systematically destroyed. The lawmakers said the US-Pakistan partnership is important to America’s national security interests, but the partnership must be based on a shared commitment to human rights, democratic governance and the rule of law.
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Investigative journalist’s brothers kidnapped, musician threatened
Ahmed Noorani, a Virginia investigative journalist known for his reporting on military corruption, continues to face threats, lawmakers say. Following one of his investigative reports, his brothers were kidnapped from their home in Islamabad, beaten and kept in custody for more than a month. International human rights organizations presented this incident as an example. Similarly, the army also threatened musician Salman Ahmed. His family was threatened in both America and Pakistan. His brother-in-law was kidnapped without charges and detained until the FBI intervened. He said that independent journalists in Pakistan are harassed, kidnapped or forced to flee the country.
violence in balochistan
In the letter, the MPs have specifically mentioned the atrocities of the Pakistani Army in Balochistan. Women, religious minorities and marginalized groups, particularly in Balochistan, face severe violence and surveillance. This reflects a well-planned campaign to crush civil society. Opposition leaders are held in indefinite detention without charge. Is denied a fair trial. Ordinary citizens are arrested on the basis of social media posts. This totalitarian system of Pakistan is maintained through continuous repression.
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Demand for Magnitsky ban on Munir
