(Image source from: HWNews)

Several United States lawmakers have urged the new government of Pakistan to treat its ethnic and religious minorities with equality and dignity.

Addressing 'The Minorities Day on the Hill' organized by South Asia Minorities Alliance Foundation (SAMAF) and Voice of Karachi (VOK) on Wednesday, the lawmakers urged the Imran Khan government to halt human rights violation of minorities in Karachi likewise other parts of the country, including Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

In his speech as the host of the event, the U.S. Congressman Thomas Garrett Jr appealed to all countries in the world to treat their minorities with dignity and respect they deserve and grant them equal rights. He said that Mohajirs (Muslims who migrated to Pakistan from India during the partition in 1947) had left their homes hoping for a finer existence but they were not welcomed in their new homeland.

"I clearly understand the plight of Mohajirs who are the product of post-independence ethnic cleansing. They were forced to leave their homes hoping they are going to somewhere they’d be welcomed, but they weren't," he said. "They have a story that needs to be told. I am not advocating on behalf of any group to demand a radical change in policy except that we expect our allies to treat their minorities with equality and dignity they so much deserve," Garrett said.

Congressman Scott Perry said that "we in the United States see and treat all ethnic and religious minorities equally and we demand that our allies do the same. We can all live together and practice our faith in peace and harmony. This is the way it is now in America, but that should be everywhere."

The lawmaker from Pennsylvania said that America should take lead on this and demand all those countries the U.S. does business with or have relations with to treat their citizens equally, so everyone could realize their full potential.

In his speech, Virginia Congressman Rob Wittman highlighted the geo-strategic importance of Karachi, particularly in the wake of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China's One Belt, One Road initiative and Karachi port's importance in providing logistical supplies to Afghanistan. He assured minorities in the region his full support and promised that he would continue to work in this direction as a member of the influential Armed Services Committee.

Congressman Andy Harris said that "practicing one's religion is a basic human right, and as humans, we should share this right. It doesn't matter which part of the world we live in, or which ethnic or religious group we belong to, we have the right to exist peacefully and enjoy our basic human rights."

The U.S. lawmakers who attended the event and expressed their support for the cause of ethnic and religious minorities included Perry, Adam Kinzinger, Dave Brat, Morgan Griffith, Jeff Duncan, Raul Labrador, Gary Palmer, Rod Blum, Randy Hultgren, Jodz Rice, Andy Biggs, Tom Rice, and Alex Mooney.

By Sowmya Sangam