US expresses concern over condition of Muhajirs in Pakistan

NEW DELHI: Even as Islamabad tries to ramp up international support for the Kashmir issue the US has expressed concern over the condition of Muhajirs in Pakistan and urged the Nawaz Sharif government to safeguard minority rights in the country.

“…the United States continues to work hard and in our engagements both bilaterally with countries as well as broad reports, like our Human Rights Report, to detail and express concern and to engage with governments to support the rights of marginalized, disadvantaged minority groups around the world,” Elizabeth Trudeau, Director, Press Office, US State Department said in a briefing in Washington on Tuesday.

This statement comes within a fortnight of Muttahida Quami Movement plea to Washington seeking intervention of the US lawmakers into alleged human rights violations against the Muhajir community in Pakistan by army and security forces.

Members of the MQM earlier this month submitted a two-page memorandum to US lawmakers, appealing them to ask the Pakistani army to stop "human rights violations" against Muhajirs.

"Since the formation of MQM in 1984, over 20,000 of its workers and supporters have been brutally murdered by the Pakistani army and other law enforcement agencies," the memorandum alleged.

"It is with the highest hopes that we turn to you so that you may use your influence and power to shed light on the atrocities being committed against the Muhajir community and its representative political party the MQM in Pakistan," the memorandum said.

Subsequently during a Congressional hearing certain influential US lawmakers alleged that Pakistan government has a "regrettable record" of oppressing large communities.

"The Pakistani government has a regrettable record of oppressing some of the major components of its country, large minorities, including the Sindh and the Baloch. Free speech and political dialogue are restricted. Extra-judicial killings are common," Congressman Brad Sherman alleged.
US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher had also mentioned the alleged rights violations by the Pakistani forces.