U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Michael Posner traveled to Pakistan February 7-8. Posner had official meetings with Advisor to the Prime Minister on Human Rights Mustafa Khokhar, ECP Commissioner Fakhruddin Ebrahim, and Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Harmony Dr. Paul Bhatti. Posner also met with journalists, think tank scholars, human rights activists, civil society organizations, and religious leaders from many faiths. “The United States strongly supports a democratically elected civilian government in Pakistan going forward,” said Assistant Secretary Posner during his meetings. He added, “We look forward to timely, free, and fair elections that will result in the first civilian democratic transition in Pakistan’s history.”
Posner’s two-day visit focused on important human rights issues, including preparation for upcoming elections, ways to address challenges to religious freedom and accountability mechanisms to help ensure respect and protection of human rights.
