As adverts highlighting alleged human rights violations in Pakistan appear on buses and billboards in the United States, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) US official has said that they have leased out 1000 billboards across the US to run a campaign called “#PakistanUnderSiege”.
The PTI earlier released a dossier that details “massive human rights violations” allegedly meted out to the party and its allies by the present government over the past year.
The party has accused the government of illegal arrests, detention, custodial torture and victimising political workers, suppressing media reporting, attacking freedom of expression, and violating the dignity and privacy of political opponents.
The PTI has made light of human rights violations in the past.
While serving as the minister for maritime affairs, PTI leader Ali Zaidi had jokingly posted on Twitter a picture of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders Hamza Shahbaz and Maryam Nawaz — the latter of whom was holding a photo frame of her father Nawaz Sharif. The caption accompanying the picture posted by Zaidi read: “Family of missing persons on the streets again.”
Zaidi apologised for the remarks after receiving backlash from political parties as well as members of civil society for mocking the sufferings of the families of missing persons.
The World Baloch Organisation, which highlights abuses against the Baloch people in Pakistan, in the past launched similar campaigns overseas, receiving widespread condemnation from Pakistani authorities.
Atif Khan, who is a former president of PTI Texas, said that they have leased out 1000 billboards across the United States to highlight “human rights violations” in Pakistan.
#PakistanUnderSeige We are leasing over 1000 Billboards all across US to do a one month campaign against Human Rights Violations, support true Democratic values and protect the constitution in Pakistan. @ImranKhanPTI @ImranRiazKhan @MoeedNj @NixamKhanMomand @MichaelKugelman… pic.twitter.com/vvAf5uiSfC
— Atif Khan (@akhan4pakistan) April 2, 2023
Under this campaign, the adverts such as “Custodial torture – disgrace to humanity”, “Forced disappearances of political workers” and “Death of democracy” have appeared on public spots in the US.
PTI has also hired lobbying firms in the US to make Americans aware that Khan’s life is under threat and to win over sympathies for the former prime minister in Washington where he is not very popular.
The PTI has hired the Washington-based firm, Praia Consultants LLC, for six months. It will advise Imran Khan about relationships with the US government and institutions and also organise meetings with US decision-makers.
