‘Politically motivated’: Pakistan rejects US State Department report on rights violations
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday “categorically” rejected the 2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices issued by the US State Department, calling the report politically motivated, lacking objective evidence and ” It is in line with the agenda of “the politicization of international human rights.”
The annual human rights assessment, released earlier this week, found that in the past year Pakistan has experienced a number of incidents of arbitrary killings, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by the government or its agents.” “Instances of criminal conduct and punishment” were identified.
The report also said the government took “few credible steps” to identify and punish officials who may have committed rights violations.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that “the content of the report is inaccurate, based on inaccurate information and completely divorced from the reality on the ground,” adding that the assessment “is not intended to judge the human rights of another country. using a domestic social lens.” It’s a politically biased approach. ”
“This year’s report once again highlights the lack of objectivity and politicization of international human rights issues. It clearly shows double standards and is undermining the international human rights debate.”
The Foreign Office said it was “deeply concerned” that the report, which aims to highlight human rights issues around the world, ignored or downplayed “the most pressing hotspots of serious human rights violations” such as Gaza and Kashmir. I’m concerned,” he said. It also called on the United States to show the “necessary moral courage” to tell the truth about all situations and to play a constructive role in supporting international efforts to end human rights abuses.
“Pakistan, in line with its constitutional framework and the spirit of democracy, will strengthen its human rights framework, engage constructively in advancing the international human rights agenda, and ensure fairness and objectivity in international human rights debates. We remain steadfast in our determination to maintain this,” he added. .
Political leaders, human rights organizations and victims’ families have long accused the government, military and intelligence agencies of being behind rights violations including arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Families say people picked up by security forces on the pretext of fighting insurgents or crime often go missing for years and are sometimes found dead with no official explanation. Pakistani state institutions deny involvement in these incidents.
Pakistan’s justice minister said on Tuesday, hours after the release of the US report, that the government would reconstitute a committee to deal with enforced disappearances.
“Now, on the Prime Minister’s instructions, work on this matter has started again. A committee has been reconstituted and parliament will also participate in that committee,” said Justice Minister Azam Nazir Tarar.
“There is no lack of seriousness on the part of the government to resolve this issue.”
