A group of 46 US lawmakers has called on President Joe Biden to push for the immediate release of Pakistan's former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, along with other political prisoners, citing concerns for their safety based on findings from the UN Working Group. In a letter addressed to the outgoing president, members of Congress urged Biden to take concrete steps aligned with “H. Res. 901,” a resolution passed in June by a significant majority in the US House of Representatives. This resolution underscores concerns over escalating human rights violations and the erosion of civil liberties in Pakistan. Sharing the letter on its official X account, PTI stated: “46 members of the US House of Representatives, representing both Republican and Democratic parties, have written to President Joe Biden urging immediate action for Imran Khan’s release.” The letter, led by lawmakers Susan Wild and John James, also criticized US Ambassador Donald Blome for failing to address the concerns of the Pakistani-American community or advocate for democratic principles, human rights, and the release of political prisoners. The lawmakers highlighted irregularities in Pakistan’s February 2024 elections, labeling them “flawed” due to electoral fraud, suppression of the PTI, and reversed results favoring independent candidates allied with PTI. They expressed alarm over worsening conditions since the elections, including mass arrests, arbitrary detentions, curbs on freedom of expression, and restrictions on social media access. Read: Supporters of Pakistan’s imprisoned ex-PM Imran Khan rally to demand his release Qureshi Urges PTI Leadership to Seek Input from Jailed Leaders Meanwhile, PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi criticized his party for sidelining him from discussions on Pakistan's political crisis despite his four decades of experience. Speaking to reporters after a court appearance on Saturday, Qureshi urged PTI leaders to consult imprisoned senior members in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail. “I appeal to the PTI leadership to visit us when possible to gather insights on resolving the current deadlock,” he said. Qureshi, who has been in prison for over a year, urged PTI to engage with like-minded political parties to forge a consensus on key issues such as rule of law, judicial independence, and human rights. He reaffirmed his loyalty to Imran Khan and expressed support for the November 24 protest, urging party members and supporters to join. The seasoned politician also called on Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to focus on building alliances with democratic forces rather than criticizing coalition partner Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Qureshi’s remarks come as tensions rise within Pakistan's political landscape, with various parties voicing grievances against one another amid the ongoing crisis. Source: agency

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday (August 13, 2023) conveyed to visiting US congressmen Ed Case and Richard McCormick that there is no scope for reaching any consensus as BNP wants the government to step down. He conveyed the message when the congressmen wanted to know whether there is any way to reach consensus with the opposition. Momen also asked them whether the US government would step down prior to the election there. “Certainly not,” Momen said, adding that, “Will you sit in discussion if there is such a demand? Certainly not.” Read more: Foreign observers are welcome during Bangladesh's upcoming elections: Momen tells Swiss envoy

Several noted minority community leaders, academics and anti-war crimes campaigners have pulled up six US congressmen for what they called “absolutely false projection” of the state of minorities in Bangladesh in a letter to President Biden, asking to take “appropriate measures” for banning Bangladeshi law enforcement and military personnel from participating in UN peacekeeping missions. They called it a “threat to the existing communal harmony in Bangladesh.”  Asked about the authenticity of the claim in the letter that “Since Sheikh Hasina's rise to power, the Hindu population has been halved,” Advocate Rana Dasgupta, leader of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, outright rejected it. “I will say this claim is a travesty of truth,” he said. Read more: Palbari Puja Mandap in Sherpur: Sign of communal harmony for over a century Referring to a number of surveys, he added, “Between 1947 and 1971, under Pakistani rule, a whopping 9.7% of the population declined.” Since Bangladesh became independent, over the last five decades, Hindu population decreased around 10 percent. This happened considerably when the country was ruled by BNP and Jamaat, he said. In response to such assertions in the letter from the US congressmen, Dasgupta said, “As the national election is approaching, a certain group has become very active.” Referring to earlier lobbying efforts by Jamaat, a political party which has proven record of collaborating with the Pakistani Military junta in 1971 in the acts of genocide, abduction, loot, arson, and rape, Dasgupta, also a prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, said: “With the singular objective to stop the war crimes trial and enjoy the culture of impunity, Jamaat spent money and struck an agreement with lobbyist groups overseas to get the backing of foreign governments in their favour.” Read: Jamaat demands the govt declare Ahmadiyyas 'non-Muslim' “On the international stage, a systematic smear campaign has been carried out against the trial process,” he said. The letter from the six congressmen also claims “Sheikh Hasina’s government also has persecuted Bangladesh’s minority Christian population – burning and looting places of worship, jailing pastors, and breaking up families when religious conversion occurs.” Leaders of the community including Nirmal Rozario, president of Bangladesh Christian Association, rejected this claim as well. “It is an outright lie. Rather, the reality is that with the return of AL, our community has been living in harmony – with assistance from the prime minister. The government’s development schemes connect the minorities as well,” he said. Eminent researcher and freedom fighter Ajoy Das Gupta, said, “A number of BNP leaders, including Rumeen Farhana, went vocal on social media, justifying the letter.” “BNP and Jamaat hold a sordid record of attacking minorities,” he added. Read more: ‘Hate campaign’ being run against Ahmadiyyas on Twitter, says member of community Calling such assertions “biased, a travesty of justice, and highly motivated,” the minority community leaders also called into question why the US congressmen did not bother to mention the “BNP-Jamaat sponsored hate campaign against minorities”, including a series of tweets posted from the verified account of Basherkella – known as a “Jamaat mouthpiece” – calling for “boycotting” the Ahmadiyya community.

US congressman Steve Chabot, along with congressman of Indian origin Ro Khanna, introduced a resolution in US House of Representatives to declare Pakistan Army action against Bengalis and Hindus in 1971 during the Liberation War of Bangladesh as "genocide" and "crime against humanity". The Bangladesh Genocide of 1971 must not be forgotten, Chabot said. "With help from my Hindu constituents in Ohio’s First District, Rep Ro Khanna and I introduced legislation to recognize that the mass atrocities committed against Bengalis and Hindus, in particular, were indeed a genocide," he said. Read 1971 genocide by Pakistani military most heinous crimes in human history Chabot said they must not let the years erase the memory of the millions who were massacred. "Recognizing the genocide strengthens the historical record, educates our fellow Americans, and lets would-be perpetrators know such crimes will not be tolerated or forgotten," he tweeted. "Proud to join Rep Steve Chabot in introducing the first resolution commemorating the 1971 Bengali Genocide in which millions of ethnic Bengalis and Hindus were killed or displaced in one of the most forgotten genocides of our time," Khanna said. Read 1971 Genocide in Bangladesh: Govt efforts on to have UN recognition The 8-page resolution titled "Recognizing the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971" calls on the government of Pakistan, in the face of overwhelming evidence, to offer acknowledgment of its role in such genocide, offer formal apologies to the government and people of Bangladesh, and prosecute, in accordance with international law, any perpetrators who are still living. It condemns the atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of Pakistan against the people of Bangladesh from March 1971 to December 1971; recognizes that such atrocities against Bengalis and Hindus constitute crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide; recalls the death and suffering of the countless victims of such atrocities and expresses its deep sympathy for the suffering. The resolution recognizes that entire ethnic groups or religious communities are not responsible for the crimes committed by their members; calls on the President of the United States to recognize the atrocities committed against ethnic Bengalis and Hindus by the Armed Forces of Pakistan during 1971 as crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. Read Mozammel batting for international recognition of genocide of 1971 The resolution to declare the Pakistan army's action in 1971 as 'Genocide' reaffirms the United States commitment to promoting peace, stability, and intercommunal harmony in the Indo-Pacific region, and the right of all people living in the region, regardless of national, racial, ethnic, or religious background, to enjoy the benefits of democratic institutions, the rule of law, the freedom of religion, and economic opportunity.