Imran Khan has not started his US trip on a great note. Firstly there were no US officials to receive the Pakistan PM and adding salt the wound, Baloch activists launched another round of campaign in Washington DC to seek President Donald Trump’s help in ending “enforced disappearances” in Pakistan.
Massive billboards started running on the streets of Washington DC a day before Pakistan PM Imran Khan landed in the city for his first visit to the US for talks with US President Donald Trump to “refresh” bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Washington DC, USA. The Prime Minister was received by Senior Officials of US State Department, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Ambassador of Pakistan to USA Dr. Asad M. Khan.#PMIKInUSA pic.twitter.com/f3p3tshdWx
— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) July 21, 2019
Earlier, blasphemy law critic Shaan Taseer requested Donald Trump to raise the subject of Christian oppression in Pakistan when he meets Imran Khan. Taseer is the son of Salman Taseer, the governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province who was assassinated in 2011 for his opposition to the country’s blasphemy law.
“I would be very grateful if you would raise with him the issue of persecuted Christians in Pakistan, the blasphemy law and people who are suffering under this law,” Taseer from Pakistan told Trump during a meeting at the Oval Office.
Additionally, A group of ten prominent US lawmakers asked US President Donald Trump to raise the issue of human rights violations in the Sindh province in his meeting with the visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“We are writing to urge you to raise the issue of human rights abuses in Sindh Province with Prime Minister Imran Khan when you meet with him on July 22, 2019,” said the Congressional letter, written by 10 members of the US House of Representatives.
Signatories to the letter to Trump include Congressmen Brad Sherman, Ann Wagner, Adam B Schiff, Jan Schakosky, Eleanor H Norton, Carolyn B Maloney, David E Price, Juan Vargas, David Schweikert and Dan Crenshaw.
