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Human Rights Developments Defending Human Rights The Role of the International Community Actions of the international community focused primarily on Pakistans nuclear tests, its economic crisis, and regional conflicts, particularly Afghanistan. A number of countries also registered concern about continuing religious persecution under the blasphemy laws. United Nations
In February, the U.N. Special Rappporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers issued a report expressing concern about the independence of the judiciary in Pakistan. The special rapporteur noted, among other incidents, that in late November 1997, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, Mohammad Akram Sheikh, had been assaulted and threatened with death by members of the PML on more than one occasion for opposing the PMLs policies on the role of the judiciary. The government disputed the report and failed to provide any assurance that security would be provided to Sheikh. European Union
Japan
United States
As mandated by legislation, President Clinton immediately imposed sanctions on Pakistan for its nuclear tests, including denial of loans from the Export-Import Bank, restrictions on trade between the two states, and withdrawal of support in international financial institutions, effectively removing Pakistan from consideration for new aid under the IMF or the World Bank. In light of Pakistans economic crisis, however, with dwindling foreign reserves and possible default on prior debt obligations, the United States, in addition to the other members of the G-7, have permitted limited financial assistance. In July, a waiver was granted for the sale of food grains. Such assistance may have come in exchange for guarantees from the Sharif government that Pakistan would sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Relations between the U.S. and Pakistan were further strained after the U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan on August 20. Some fifty men were killed in the attack, including a number of militants of the Harakat-ul Mujahideen, a militant group backed by Pakistan that has been fighting Indian security forces in Kashmir. Pakistan has long denied supporting such groups. Following the suicide of Bishop Joseph in May, the U.S. condemned the blasphemy laws and urged the Sharif government to repeal them. World Bank
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Afghanistan Burma Cambodia China and Tibet India Indonesia and East Timor Japan Malaysia Pakistan Sri Lanka Thailand Vietnam |
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