WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday called on Pakistan to investigate the killing of a lawyer shot dead for defending a university lecturer accused of blasphemy under strict laws against defaming Islam.
“We were deeply saddened by the murder of Rashid Rehman, an attorney and human rights defender in Pakistan,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
“We encourage Pakistani authorities, as we have in similar cases in Pakistan and around the world, to swiftly investigate this crime and bring to justice those responsible.”
Gunmen stormed Rehman’s office late Wednesday and started firing indiscriminately, killing him and injuring two others, in the latest high-profile killing linked to Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws.
Psaki spoke as Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns was visiting Pakistan on Friday at what he said was a “moment of opportunity” in US-Pakistan ties.
Burns met with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as well as other top ministers and advisors and General Raheel Sharif, the new head of the nation’s powerful army.
“After some difficult years, our relationship is on a positive trajectory -- a trajectory we hope to not only maintain, but accelerate,” Burns said in a statement.
Washington supported the prime minister’s bid “to reestablish authority over all Pakistani territory in whatever way Pakistan deems appropriate.”
AFP
