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Congressional body urges Bush to raise Pak religious freedom
Washington, June 21: The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has urged President George W Bush to raise the issue of religious intolerance in Pakistan when he meets his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf next week, saying Islamabad`s measures to protect minorities were `wholly inadequate.`
Washington, June 21: The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has urged President George W Bush to raise the issue of religious intolerance in Pakistan when he meets his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf next week, saying Islamabad's measures to protect minorities were "wholly inadequate."
USCIRF, a statutory body nominated by Congress and the president, called on bush to raise US concerns about forces of "religious intolerance" that have gained ground in Pakistan and to ensure the recently introduced Islamic laws in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) do not violate human rights.
USCIRF chair Felice Gaer said, "Successive governments of Pakistan have seriously violated the religious freedom of Pakistani citizens, and measures taken by the government of Pakistan to protect non-Muslims from violence or to bring attackers to justice have proven wholly inadequate."
"The United States must, in discussions with the Musharaff government, promote those elements in Pakistan which are under increasing pressure from the forces of intolerance and violence," she added.
The commission in a letter to bush said despite the closer cooperation between us and Pakistan following September 11 attacks and Pakistan's finding and capturing of al-Qaeda leaders, the forces of intolerance have gained ground there.
The letter urged bush to ask Musharraf during their talks on June 24 to ensure that legislation in the NWFP does not violate international standards of human rights, including religious freedom.
Bureau Report
USCIRF chair Felice Gaer said, "Successive governments of Pakistan have seriously violated the religious freedom of Pakistani citizens, and measures taken by the government of Pakistan to protect non-Muslims from violence or to bring attackers to justice have proven wholly inadequate."
"The United States must, in discussions with the Musharaff government, promote those elements in Pakistan which are under increasing pressure from the forces of intolerance and violence," she added.
The commission in a letter to bush said despite the closer cooperation between us and Pakistan following September 11 attacks and Pakistan's finding and capturing of al-Qaeda leaders, the forces of intolerance have gained ground there.
The letter urged bush to ask Musharraf during their talks on June 24 to ensure that legislation in the NWFP does not violate international standards of human rights, including religious freedom.
Bureau Report