Pakistan army violating human rights in Sindh: US group

Washington, Nov 13: The Pakistani army is indulging in gross violation of human rights in the country's Sindh province, US-based Sindhi Foundation has told President Barack Obama ahead of the Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif's visit to the US.

In a letter to Obama, the foundation expressed "serious concerns" about the human rights violations committees by Pakistan army and its subsidiary agencies, in action against rise of religious extremism and providing continued support to extremist terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba headed by Hafeez Saeed to expand their network in Sindh province of Pakistan.

"Pakistan's military is continuing to play its double standard in its war against terror with international coalition partners especially the US," the Sindhi Foundation said in its letter to Obama.

"They are out to settle scores with its Sindhi political dissidents and nationalist activists who are vehemently opposed to Pakistan army's hobnobbing and patronage of the Jihadi extremist groups," the letter said.

Sindhi foundation in its letter appealed the US President to ask his administration officials to raise the issue of human rights violation by Pakistan army in Sindh when the army chief visit the US. General Raheel Sharif is scheduled to meet top defense leaders of the US next week. He is also scheduled to travel to Florida for meeting the leadership of the US Central Command.

"I would like you to pre-condition all continues non-humanitarian aid provided by United States to the improvement of the human rights situation and crackdown against Hafeez Saeed terrorist network," said Sufi Munawar Laghari, executive director of the foundation.

PTI