Rep. Mikie Sherrill Statement on House Foreign Affairs Hearing Regarding Pakistani Democracy

Washington, DC — Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement regarding today’s hearing in the House Foreign Affairs Committee centered on the recent Pakistani elections and the future of Pakistan’s democracy:

“When my constituents first came to me with concerns about the political situation in Pakistan, I wrote a letter to Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks urging them to hold a briefing with the State Department. In that letter, I highlighted my concerns with the ongoing crackdowns against the freedom of press and assembly, restrictions on political internet content, and reports of arbitrary detention.

“Unfortunately, the situation in Pakistan has deteriorated further. The February elections were marked by internet shutdowns, violence, and accusations of election tampering. The State Department has called for claims of fraud and interference in the election to be investigated. As the United States continues to work with our ally to ensure that Pakistan’s democracy prevails in the future, I am glad to see the Foreign Affairs Committee taking the problem seriously. This hearing was a strong step in the right direction, and I look forward to working with Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks to strengthen Pakistan’s democracy.”

Congresswoman Sherrill is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the Navy for almost 10 years as a helicopter pilot and Russian policy officer. She now serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the new House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).