Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former minister for human rights Shireen Mazari has called for the United Nations to take action of the alleged 'misuse' of the blasphemy cases filed by the incumbent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government against PTI leaders.
Addressed to the UN's special rapporteur on extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions, special rapporteur on the freedom of opinion and expression, and special rapporteur on the freedom of religion and belief, Mazari wrote the letter on May 2.
In the letter, she claims that Pakistan has been engulfed in a political crisis ever since PTI chairperson and former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted from power on April 10, in the aftermath of a 'regime change scheme'.
She added that Khan's government was replaced by one led by Shahbaz Sharif, who she claims has been embroiled in 'multiple money-laundering and corruption cases and is out on bail'.
In a separate letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, Mazari protested against the appointment of Rana Sanaullah as interior minister, saying that he was an 'ally of terrorist groups and an alleged killer', who is an 'accused' in the Model Town case, and is using the 'religion card' against his political enemies.
Mazari, in her letter to the UNHRC, highlighted three violations by the PML-N government against Imran Khan.
First, she cited the alleged media blackout, saying "The government-controlled PTCL has denied access to any private channel seen covering Khan's massive rallies."
The second violation according to Mazari was the filing of the blasphemy case against PTI leaders, in connection with the Madina incident. "To use the Madina incident as an excuse to file charges of blasphemy means endangering lives of Imran and party's leadership," she said.
The third violation seemed to be Rana Sanaullah's 'threats' of the arrest of PTI leaders, without an actual FIR being filed.
She urged the UN to intervene and stop the misuse of blasphemy laws against political opponents, stop media censorship, and stop denying the right to peaceful protest.
Addressed to the UN's special rapporteur on extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions, special rapporteur on the freedom of opinion and expression, and special rapporteur on the freedom of religion and belief, Mazari wrote the letter on May 2.
In the letter, she claims that Pakistan has been engulfed in a political crisis ever since PTI chairperson and former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted from power on April 10, in the aftermath of a 'regime change scheme'.
She added that Khan's government was replaced by one led by Shahbaz Sharif, who she claims has been embroiled in 'multiple money-laundering and corruption cases and is out on bail'.
In a separate letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, Mazari protested against the appointment of Rana Sanaullah as interior minister, saying that he was an 'ally of terrorist groups and an alleged killer', who is an 'accused' in the Model Town case, and is using the 'religion card' against his political enemies.
Mazari, in her letter to the UNHRC, highlighted three violations by the PML-N government against Imran Khan.
First, she cited the alleged media blackout, saying "The government-controlled PTCL has denied access to any private channel seen covering Khan's massive rallies."
The second violation according to Mazari was the filing of the blasphemy case against PTI leaders, in connection with the Madina incident. "To use the Madina incident as an excuse to file charges of blasphemy means endangering lives of Imran and party's leadership," she said.
The third violation seemed to be Rana Sanaullah's 'threats' of the arrest of PTI leaders, without an actual FIR being filed.
She urged the UN to intervene and stop the misuse of blasphemy laws against political opponents, stop media censorship, and stop denying the right to peaceful protest.