The Pakistan Foreign Office (PFO) has reacted sharply to a bipartisan bill tabled in the US House of Representatives, which seeks sanctions against Pakistani state functionaries, including the Army Chief, for alleged human rights abuses. Rejecting the action on Thursday, Pakistan called the bill an "isolated act" that expresses individual views and not the general state of US-Pakistan relations.
Furthermore, Pakistan condemned the most recent US-sponsored sanctions on its business entities, terming them as one-sided actions undertaken unilaterally, without consultation, evidence, or rationale.
"We are aware of the bill brought in the US Congress. It is the point of view of a small number of people and does not constitute the wider relations between Pakistan and the United States," Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said during his weekly briefing.
This came after two US legislators in the House of Representatives introduced a bill calling for sanctions against the Pakistani government and the Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir. The bill blames the Pakistani leadership for suppressing former Prime Minister Imran Khan and for violating human rights. It would compel the imposition of sanctions within 180 days if Pakistan does not take measures to enhance its human rights record if passed.
Named 'The Pakistan Democracy Act,' the bill was introduced by Republican Rep. Joe Wilson and Democrat Jimmy Panetta. It has been forwarded to the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committee for further evaluation.
Additionally, the bill aims to invoke the US Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which allows the US government to deny visas and bar entry to those accused of committing human rights abuses.
For it to be legislated into law, the bill has to be approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate and then be signed into law by US President Donald Trump.
Although analysts say the bill will not pass in its present form, it is a sign of increasing pressure on Pakistan's government and military command. Analysts say the effort is to force more political freedom for ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is jailed on corruption, sedition, and incitement to violence charges. Khan and his party have consistently called the allegations baseless and politically motivated.
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