WASHINGTON
US Senator Brad Sherman on Sunday asked the Pakistani authorities to ensure freedom of expression.
In a video statement released after a telephonic conversation with PTI chairman and former prime minister Iman Khan, the US senator, who is a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee said PTI worker Zil-e-Shah was ‘tortured’ to death and his body was thrown on the road.
The gruesome murder should be investigated and the elements involved in it should be held accountable, the statement said.
The US Senator Brad Sherman noted that licence of a private television channel was revoked, speeches of the former prime minister were banned asked the Pakistani authorities to ensure and respect freedom of press and expression.
The US Congress is monitoring the situation in Pakistan very closely as we want to see a strong democratic Pakistan.
Earlier this month, a delegation of lawmakers from the United States (US) met Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and discussed matters of mutual interest and bilateral issues.
The delegations comprise Speaker California Anthony Rendon, Eloise Reyes, Chairperson Appropriations Committee Chris Howden Spencer, Chief of Democratic Caucus Mike Gibson, Chairperson Small Business Wendy Carrillo and members of the IT committee.
The PTI shared a video message on Twitter today in which Sherman was standing alongside Dr Asif Mahmood, who is a Democratic candidate running against Young Kim in the state’s 40th congressional district.
Sherman recalled that ties between the United States and Pakistan dated back to the early 1940s and over the years the two countries had worked togtether on several global and regional issues.
He said the US must support democracy and human rights around the world and particularly in Pakistan. “It is not the role of the United States to involve itself in Pakistan’s internal governmental matters with respect to Pakistan’s constitutional and democratic process.
But we must not shy away from raising our voices for human rights and democracy in Pakistan or anywhere else. The US congressman was of the view that the government of Pakistan and every government should respect the right of people to speak, the right to organise, the right to demonstrate.
“Everyone wanted to see a “calm, orderly, democratic and prosperous Pakistan where Pakistanis can have the freedom to have an open and political dialogue”. He raised alarm at the incident of “custodial torture” and “sexual abuse” of PTI leaders Shahbaz Gill and Azam Swati. The US congressman also talked about the “brutal deaths” of journalist Arshad Sharif and PTI worker Zille Shah.
