Gofrixt [17 July 2025] – In a forceful warning, a powerful group of US lawmakers has said that the government of Pakistan continues to engage in transnational repression. They accused Pakistani authorities of going after dissidents, journalists and activists living abroad, particularly in the United States and Europe.
The lawmakers held a hearing in Washington, in which they heard from human rights groups, as well as from exiled Pakistani militants. Other witnesses described harassment, surveillance and threats that singled out critics of the Pakistani state. These actions alarmed lawmakers who connected them to a worldwide trend of authoritarianism.
The top voice demanding US government action: Congresswoman Ilhan Omar calling for foreign interference cases to be investigated. Democratic values should be a compass for America’s allies and foreign policy partners, she stressed. US Congressman Brad Sherman too demanded accountability, and said Pakistan should refrain from intimidation beyond its borders.
Lawmakers questioned whether Pakistani intelligence agencies collaborated with operatives working in the US and UK. They called on the State Department to clarify what had happened and urged stronger diplomatic pressure.
Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, issued comprehensive reports. They alleged that Pakistan used cyber tools, fake legal notices and the detention of family members of dissidents. Exile activists, meanwhile, described receiving phone calls and messages from anonymous numbers warning them against criticizing the military or the government.
