Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a briefing that will examine the human rights landscape in Pakistan.
The atrophy of rule of law and a culture of impunity pose serious threats to human rights in Pakistan. February’s elections were marred by widespread allegations of fraud, and opposition political activity continues to be suppressed by the military establishment. Human rights organizations have documented a variety of abuses, including enforced disappearances and restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. Violence against religious minorities, such as Ahmadi Muslims, often goes unprosecuted or is tacitly endorsed via blasphemy charges levied against the victims. The State Department’s 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practicesnote that the Pakistani Government “rarely took credible steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses.”
Panelists will discuss the multifaceted human rights concerns facing Pakistan and offer recommendations for action by the U.S. Congress.
Panelists
-Dr. Waris Husain, Adjunct Professor of Law, Howard University School of Law
-Raza Ahmad Rumi, Distinguished Lecturer, City University of New York
Moderator
-Tariq Ahmad, Foreign Law Specialist, Law Library of Congress
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Originally recorded at 10:00 am EDT on August 28, 2024.
The opening remarks of Raza Ahmad Rumi have been removed from this recording upon his request.
Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a briefing that will examine the human rights landscape in Pakistan.
The atrophy of rule of law and a culture of impunity pose serious threats to human rights in Pakistan. February’s elections were marred by widespread allegations of fraud, and opposition political activity continues to be suppressed by the military establishment. Human rights organizations have documented a variety of abuses, including enforced disappearances and restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. Violence against religious minorities, such as Ahmadi Muslims, often goes unprosecuted or is tacitly endorsed via blasphemy charges levied against the victims. The State Department’s 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practicesnote that the Pakistani Government “rarely took credible steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses.”
Panelists will discuss the multifaceted human rights concerns facing Pakistan and offer recommendations for action by the U.S. Congress.
Panelists
-Dr. Waris Husain, Adjunct Professor of Law, Howard University School of Law
-Raza Ahmad Rumi, Distinguished Lecturer, City University of New York
Moderator
-Tariq Ahmad, Foreign Law Specialist, Law Library of Congress
----
Originally recorded at 10:00 am EDT on August 28, 2024.
The opening remarks of Raza Ahmad Rumi have been removed from this recording upon his request.
