Pakistani diaspora to take protest to next level in USA

WASHINGTON: The Pakistani diaspora in America is planning a meeting of US lawmakers to highlight what they say atrocities in Pakistan against so supporters of Imran Khan’s PTI.

Dr Asif Mahmood, a California Democrat told Pakistani newspaper, Dawn: “We have to move to the next step: Conference/hearing at Capitol Hill co-sponsored by Rep Brad Sherman, Rep Jim Costa and me in the 3rd week of June.”

The purpose of this hearing, and other similar efforts, “is to curtail these atrocities by raising those at the highest levels or they will never stop,” he said.

Dr Mahmood also initiated a letter demanding unfettered democracy in Pakistan, sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken early this month with the signatures of 69 lawmakers. He now plans to send another letter to Mr Blinken, signed by prominent US Senators.

This week, the chairperson of the Pakistan caucus in Congress, Sheila Jackson Lee also joined the lawmakers who are expressing concern at reported human rights abuses in Pakistan.

“As the founder and chair of the … Congressional Pakistan caucus, I am extremely concerned about these reports,” particularly about the moves directed at the former Pakistani prime minister. 

Atif Khan, a PTI leader from Texas, added that his party plans to gather 5,000 to 10,000 people in Washington next month to “show our support to democracy in Pakistan”.

Michael Kugelman, a South Asia scholar at Wilson Center, Washington, said the Pakistan diaspora in the US has been strongly pro-Imran Khan for years.

“PTI has long had a large support base and membership —including some key leaders — here. That trend will likely intensify with the exodus of Insafians from Pakistan, many coming here. It could become a party in exile in the US,” he wrote in a tweet.

Leaders of the Pakistani community, however, point out that as the community grows its roots in the US, it has increased its participation in American politics as well.

“These people are here to stay. Now, they will have a say in every major issue,” said another scholar, Arif Jamal. “The Pakistani government will have to learn to deal with them.”