US bill to impose human rights sanctions on Pak govt officials

Republicans and Democrats on the US House Foreign Affairs Committee have united to support a new bill that threatens human rights sanctions on key members of Pakistan's government ina troubling development for Islamabad.

- Shashank Mattoo

The Pakistan Freedom and Accountability Act, which was introduced in the House earlier this month, requires the Trump administration to identify Pakistani civilian and military officials who are responsible for “gross human rights violations” and “undermining democracy” in the country.

Once designated, Pakistani officials could face Global Magnitsky human rights sanctions which will freeze their assets within America and bar them from entering the US.