In light of the brutal state crackdown on protestors in Pakistan, we, the concerned citizens, demand immediate action from the global community to protect human rights and democracy in the country. Following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan last week, countrywide protests erupted. The government's response was an immediate internet blackout and mass arrests of over 7,000 protestors, including senior political leaders, under the colonial era “Maintenance of Public Order” Ordinance, bypassing due process of law. Unconfirmed reports from sources on the ground suggest many fatalities due to police actions during the protests.

This is a continuation of a year-long assault on human rights by the current government, including arrests of political workers, the death of a prominent journalist critical of the government, and politically motivated cases against opponents, including more than a hundred against Mr. Khan. The government has also failed to hold constitutionally mandated polls in the provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, representing over 120 million people, despite clear directives of the Supreme Court. Such actions pose a significant threat to Pakistan’s nascent democracy, leading to potential unrest in a country already grappling with the aftermath of devastating floods and record-high inflation.

We urgently request your assistance to ensure the preservation of human rights, democratic norms, and the rule of law in Pakistan. We demand the release of all unjustly detained individuals, reinstatement of the internet, removal of the ban on political gatherings, and adherence to court directives for holding provincial elections on time. Our friends and families live in fear of unlawful prosecution and imprisonment, causing widespread distress. Your support in these challenging times will be profoundly valued.

1. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65541769
2. https://www.dawn.com/news/1752793
3. https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1658336979258310657?s=20
4. https://twitter.com/KPKUpdates/status/1658147297379725319?s=20
5. https://www.dawn.com/news/1691399
6. https://cpj.org/2023/04/i-am-dying-every-day-wife-of-killed-pakistani-journalist-arshad-sharif-calls-for-justice/
7. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/11/pakistan-top-court-orders-nab-to-present-imran-khan-in-an-hour
8. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/1/pakistan-top-court-orders-polls-in-two-provinces-within-90-days#:~:text=Supreme%20Court%20says%20elections%20for,be%20held%20within%20three%20months.&text=Islamabad%2C%20Pakistan%20%E2%80%93%20Pakistan's%20Supreme%20Court,be%20held%20within%2090%20days
9. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-29/pakistan-sees-inflation-reaching-new-high-in-april#xj4y7vzkg