The PTI govt needs to take urgent measures to project a positive image of Pakistan abroad, especially in friendly countries who render significant help and assistance to Pakistan. The govt has to specially value its relations with the United Kingdom and European countries that have been nurtured over decades of diplomacy.
Pakistan has been the top recipient of UK aid and remained a strategic priority for its Department for International Development (DFID) over the last many years. The Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) of the European Union allows Pakistan to pay less or no duties on its exports to the EU. GSP+, a component of GSP, offers additional trade incentives in return for the implementation of 27 international covenants, treaties and conventions. The EU is mandated to review Pakistan’s human rights progress every two years under GSP+.
European countries give importance to human rights and media freedom. In May, Information Minister Fawad Choudhry was grilled by Stephen Sackur in BBC’s Hard Talk about incidents of violence against journalists in Pakistan allegedly by security agencies. This should have sent the right message to the government. However, within days of the interview a veteran Geo TV host was sent on long leave against his will. Last week two journalists were picked up in defiance of legal procedures, only to be released after strong reaction from the community. A report in the Guardian/Observer now tells of European and British intelligences agencies having warned Pakistani dissidents and rights activist living in the region who criticize Pakistan’s agencies that their lives are in danger. According to the report the concern now is that Pakistan appears to be moving from suppressing criticism within its borders to targeting critics based in foreign countries. This is a highly serious allegation that must not be taken lightly. Any action of the sort would do irreparable damage to Pakistan.
The government needs to realize that Pakistan’s opponents would use the situation to create a rift between Islamabad and its Western partners. The government needs to assure the countries concerned that being a responsible administration it will not allow any department or agency to indulge in any illegality at home or abroad.
