The recently concluded annual summer convention of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) has been criticized due to the political activities on the sidelines. The physicians of the Pakistan Progressive Forum (PPF) hold that efforts to defame APPNA are unfortunate as there was no official endorsement of any political activity. However, the large gathering of physicians and others of Pakistani descent created the opportunity for many to raise concerns about the state of human rights in Pakistan especially the plight of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and its founder Imran Khan.
“We welcome this development as concern for human rights is a universal commitment by the governments of the United States and Pakistan and cannot be termed as a partisan political activity,” according to the statement released by Dr. Umar Murad.
“In fact, we, the physicians of PPF demand that APPNA should actively use its meetings around the year to raise awareness and provide solidarity to the cause of human rights in Pakistan,” it added.
However, this concern should be non-partisan and broad and should include a focus on religious minorities, the marginalized ethnic groups such as the Baloch, the Pashtuns and Sindhis who have been at the receiving end of state excesses.
Pakistani diaspora in the United States can play an important role in providing support to persecuted individuals and communities beyond political or partisan affiliations.
“We stand for justice, equality before the law and full implementation of commitments made by the Government of Pakistan under the international human rights law,” the statement said.
“We urge the APPNA management and members to play their constructive role in awareness raising as well as taking a clear stance on issues that impact our families, friends and the general public. We further note that a bipartisan social forum was held during the APPNA meeting. Most of the speakers were not affiliated with any party except one. It was unfortunate that one of the speakers, a well-known rights defender, was constantly booed and insulted for expressing her opinion.”
“We urge that the moderators of such events should be more proactive in defending their guests. APPNA members should recognize that freedom of expression is not a one-way street. Echoing the demands made on the sidelines of the APPNA meeting, we hold that former prime minister Imran Khan should be released and not detained under the draconian laws which Khan, during his term as the prime minister used along with the Pakistan Army, to silence his political opponents.