44 US Legislators Call for Sanctions Against Pakistan PM and Army Chief, Cite Rigged Elections & Severe Human Rights Abuses
In a major diplomatic development, 44 members of the US Congress have written a strongly worded letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, demanding immediate sanctions against Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir.
The lawmakers allege that Pakistan’s military is effectively running the government, while fundamental civil liberties are being brutally suppressed.
The letter—led by Democratic lawmakers Pramila Jayapal and Greg Casar—claims that dissenting voices in Pakistan and abroad are facing intimidation, abduction, and torture, including Pakistani-origin American citizens who speak out against government actions.
Key Allegations by US Lawmakers
Pakistan is moving toward authoritarian military rule, where elected leaders have no real power.
Journalists are being threatened, abducted, or forced into exile.
Citizens face arrests merely for social media posts.
Opposition leaders are jailed without charges, especially following the controversial 2024 general elections.
Ethnic and religious minorities, women, and the Baloch communities are facing severe repression.
The lawmakers cite several incidents — including the case of Virginia-based journalist Ahmad Noorani, whose reporting on military corruption led to the kidnapping of his brothers in Pakistan for over a month.
Similarly, the brother-in-law of renowned musician Salman Ahmad was abducted and only released after US intervention.
The letter also references the 2024 Pakistan elections, describing them as “grossly rigged,” citing evidence from the independent Pattan Report and concerns raised previously by the US State Department.
Possible Sanctions Proposed
The lawmakers urged punitive action under existing American laws, including the Global Magnitsky Act, which targets severe human rights violations:
Visa Ban: Complete travel restrictions to the US for the Pakistani officials and their families.
Asset Freeze: Seizure or blocking of all financial assets or bank accounts linked to them in the US or US-allied countries.
They argued that such actions would protect Pakistani-American citizens and uphold the US commitment to defending global human rights.
Demand for the Release of Imran Khan
The letter calls for the immediate release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan—imprisoned for over two years—and other political detainees.
The lawmakers expressed alarm over rumors regarding Khan’s deteriorating health, which intensified after his family was denied access for nearly a month.
Violent protests erupted across Rawalpindi and Islamabad, after which Khan’s family was finally allowed to meet him on December 2, 27 days after being denied access.
Political Context
This appeal comes shortly after Pakistan enacted the 27th Constitutional Amendment (November 12), which dramatically increases military control over civilian affairs.
Under pressure from the army, Pakistan’s Supreme Court has allowed civilian cases to be tried in military courts, raising serious concerns about the collapse of judicial independence.
International bodies, including the United Nations, have condemned the move as an attempt to strip ordinary citizens of democratic rights and hand absolute power to the military.
Meanwhile, General Asim Munir has met US President Donald Trump twice in 2025, once privately at the White House, sparking strong protests from Pakistani-American communities who labeled him a dictator and murderer.
US Lawmakers’ Closing Statement
The letter concludes: These steps are necessary to demonstrate US accountability on human rights, protect Pakistani-American citizens from transnational repression, and support long-term regional stability.”
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