House human-rights commission hears testimony alleging Pakistans repression of opposition, media and refugees

At a hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in Washington, D.C., U.S. lawmakers and expert witnesses described what they called an escalating campaign of political repression in Pakistan that has targeted the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), independent journalists, religious minorities and Afghan refugees.

The witnesses told commissioners that the campaign includes arrests and convictions through military-run tribunals, blocked or removed online media channels, and mass deportations of Afghan nationals. "Pakistan's 2024 elections were neither free nor fair," said Zulfi Bukhari, a former special assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan, who told the commission he and other PTI supporters faced bans on campaign symbols, bans on rallies, and manipulation of vote counts on Feb. 8, 2024.

The witnesses said the consequences are broad: Imran Khan, once prime minister, faces more than 200 criminal cases and remains in detention; dozens of journalists and civil-society leaders have been driven into exile or arrested; and more than a million Afghan nationals have been forcibly returned, placing many at grave risk.

The hearing opened with Co-chair Representative Smith saying the human cost "is immense in its scope as well as its severity," and emphasizing alleged restrictions on free speech, media and the electoral process. Co-chair Representative Jim McGovern told the commission that the U.S. should press for accountability and described Pakistan as "in crisis," citing economic stress, climate vulnerabilities and rising political violence.

Why it matters: Witnesses and several…