Washington, D.C. – A bipartisan coalition of U.S. lawmakers has intensified calls for the Trump administration to confront Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, over accusations of transnational repression targeting pro-democracy activists within the United States. Leading Democrats, including Representatives Greg Casar of Texas and Pramila Jayapal of Washington, both serving on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, are circulating a congressional letter pressing the White House to hold Pakistani military and civilian authorities accountable for threats and intimidation directed at Pakistani Americans.
The initiative stems from escalating concerns following Pakistan’s contentious February 2024 elections, which critics allege involved widespread voter suppression, ballot tampering, and fraud to marginalize former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. According to advocacy groups, this domestic crackdown has extended extraterritorially, with Pakistani state actors employing tactics such as surveillance, harassment, and coercion against dissidents abroad, including on U.S. soil. These actions are viewed as a direct challenge to American sovereignty and the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens and residents.
In submissions to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, witnesses and organizations have detailed a pattern of abuses orchestrated by Pakistan’s military-intelligence apparatus, often referred to as the “deep state.” A June 2025 statement from the Community Alliance for Peace and Justice described a “coordinated, whole-of-government effort” involving arbitrary detention of relatives in Pakistan to silence critics in the diaspora. The group highlighted that approximately 1.26 million Pakistani-origin individuals in the U.S. face vulnerability, with many reluctant to report incidents due to fear of reprisals.
Testimony from Pakistani journalist Ahmad Noorani, delivered to the Commission, provided firsthand accounts of repression under General Munir’s leadership. Noorani recounted a March 2025 raid on his family home in Islamabad, allegedly in retaliation for his investigative reporting on Munir’s relatives. His brothers were abducted, tortured, and subjected to a staged “fake encounter” before their release, illustrating what Noorani termed “transnational repression in its most aggressive form.” He accused Munir of leading a “machinery of repression” that includes kidnappings, enforced disappearances, and digital surveillance, extending to exiles in the West.
Similar allegations appear in a July 2025 submission from First Pakistan Global, a U.S.-based nonprofit, which characterized Pakistan under Munir as a “Punitive State” governed through coercion. The document referenced the November 26, 2024, Islamabad protests—dubbed the “Islamabad Massacre”—where military forces reportedly used live ammunition against demonstrators, resulting in suppressed casualty figures and media blackouts. The group warned that such authoritarianism undermines regional stability and U.S. interests.
Lawmakers’ demands include visa bans, restrictions on U.S. assistance, and support for legislation like the Pakistan Democracy Act (H.R. 2311) and the Pakistan Freedom and Accountability Act (H.R. 5271), which would tie aid to improvements in human rights and governance. Bipartisan backing is evident, with earlier letters from Representatives Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Greg Stanton (D-AZ) echoing these calls. Advocates, including Pakistani-American grassroots organizations like the Coalition to Change US Policy on Pakistan, emphasize that isolated measures are insufficient; comprehensive accountability is needed to prevent foreign interference in American communities.
Specific recommendations from Commission submissions urge imposing Global Magnitsky sanctions on Munir and other officials, such as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and ISI Director General Lt. General Asim Malik, for their roles in directing abuses. Noorani called for a formal congressional probe into these activities, labeling them “federal crimes” that violate U.S. laws like the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The push also advocates for the Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025 (H.R. 2158) to bolster protections for diaspora groups.
Pakistani-American Republican activist Junaid Khan, who claims personal victimization through family harassment, welcomed the effort, stating it could lead to targeted sanctions on implicated officials. Supporters argue that allowing a U.S. ally to intimidate dissidents erodes democratic values and national security.
This congressional momentum builds on prior scrutiny, including a 2024 letter to President Biden expressing concerns over human rights violations in Pakistan. As the Trump administration reviews foreign policy, experts suggest these developments could strain U.S.-Pakistan relations, particularly amid ongoing discussions on counterterrorism and regional stability. The White House has yet to respond publicly to the latest letter, but advocates remain optimistic that sustained pressure will yield reforms.
