
Pakistan Faces Scrutiny Over Transnational Repression
What Happened?
The Lahore High Court has issued notices to Pakistan's Foreign Secretary regarding the alleged detention of two PTI-affiliated citizens in the UAE. This highlights Pakistan's increasing transnational repression efforts.
Key points
- The Lahore High Court issued notices to Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar on 22 October 2026.
- Syed Salman Raza Zaidi and Muhammad Junaid Jahangir were allegedly detained in the UAE at Pakistan's request.
- Zaidi went missing on 27 September 2024, while Jahangir was detained on 24 September 2024.
- Both individuals have been denied consular and legal access.
- Transnational repression by Pakistan has intensified since the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in April 2023.
- The Pakistani government has allegedly targeted individuals in multiple countries, including the US, UK, and Canada.
Key insights
- The increasing instances of transnational repression could lead to heightened international scrutiny of Pakistan's human rights practices.
- Victims of repression may face severe consequences, including threats and violence, impacting their ability to advocate for change.
- The global community's response to these actions may influence Pakistan's future policies regarding dissent and activism.
Why it matters
This issue raises significant concerns about human rights and the safety of activists abroad.
Tags
Entities
Source
Times Now

