WASHINGTON (TIP): A US lawmaker has expressed concern over the human rights violation against the Muhajir (migrant) community in Pakistan, saying he will ask the state department to raise the issue with the Pakistani government.

The term ‘Muhajir’ is used to describe the Urdu-speaking immigrants who left India in 1947 and came to Pakistan. A large chunk of them settled in the Sindh province.

Expressing concern over human rights violation against the Muhajir community in Karachi, Congressman Rob Wittman said that he will ask Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to ensure that the US questions the Pakistani government over the persecution of Muhajirs.

The Muhajir community shared its concerns about human rights abuses in Karachi, with Wittman who is also the chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces.

Among the concerns highlighted by Muhajirs were threats to them by armed paramilitary forces, unexplained disappearance of Muhajir party political workers, extra- judicial killings of Muhajirs by the Pakistani Army and the retaliation against families in Pakistan of Muhajir supporters in the US and overseas who speak out on social media.

Wittman made the comments in a townhall with members of the World Muhajir Congress (WMC) held in a Virginia suburb of Washington.

(Source: PTI)