The United States Friday called on Pakistan to investigate the killing of a lawyer shot dead for defending a university lecturer accused of blasphemy under strict laws against defaming Islam.
|Last Updated: May 10, 2014, 07:38 AM IST|Source: AFP
Washington: The United States Friday called on Pakistan to investigate the killing of a lawyer shot dead for defending a university lecturer accused of blasphemy under strict laws against defaming Islam.
"We were deeply saddened by the murder of Rashid Rehman, an attorney and human rights defender in Pakistan," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.
"We encourage Pakistani authorities, as we have in similar cases in Pakistan and around the world, to swiftly investigate this crime and bring to justice those responsible."
Gunmen stormed Rehman`s office late Wednesday and started firing indiscriminately, killing him and injuring two others, in the latest high-profile killing linked to Pakistan`s controversial blasphemy laws.
Psaki spoke as Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns was visiting Pakistan Friday at what he said was a "moment of opportunity" in US-Pakistan ties.
Burns met with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as well as other top ministers and advisors and General Raheel Sharif, the new head of the nation`s powerful army.
"After some difficult years, our relationship is on a positive trajectory -- a trajectory we hope to not only maintain, but accelerate," Burns said in a statement.
Washington supported the prime minister`s bid "to reestablish authority over all Pakistani territory in whatever way Pakistan deems appropriate."
And the US wanted to "especially urge him to sustain pressure on militant groups, deny them a safe-haven, and prevent cross-border attacks," Burns said.
"Militancy continues to threaten Pakistan`s revival. Few countries have paid a heavier price than Pakistan in the fight against extremism."
Ties have improved markedly since almost collapsing in 2011 amid a series of crises including the US raid in Pakistan that killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
The US has also reduced the number of drone attacks on the unruly border areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan where Al-Qaeda and Taliban insurgents are believed to be hiding. Islamabad has publicly denounced drone attacks as a violation of sovereignty.
"Countering cross-border militancy and shutting down safe havens is critical not only for Pakistan`s long-term peace and prosperity but also for positive relations between Pakistan and all its neighbors, including Afghanistan," Burns added.
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.