US acts against 18 rights abusers, including Rao Anwar

WASHINGTON: On International Human Rights Day, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has taken action against 18 individuals located in Burma, Pakistan, Libya, Slovakia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and South Sudan for their roles in serious human rights abuse.

Additionally, six entities have been designated for being owned or controlled by one of the aforementioned individuals. OFAC designated these individuals and entities pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption.

The report said that during his tenure as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in District Malir, Karachi, Rao Anwar Khan was reportedly responsible for staging numerous fake police encounters in which individuals were killed by police, and was involved in over 190 police encounters that resulted in the deaths of over 400 people, including the murder of Naqeebullah Mehsood.

Anwar helped to lead a network of police and criminal thugs that were allegedly responsible for extortion, land grabbing, narcotics, and murder. Anwar is designated for being responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse, the report added.

“The United States will not tolerate torture, kidnapping, sexual violence, murder, or brutality against innocent civilians,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “America is the world leader in combatting human rights abuse and we will hold perpetrators and enablers accountable wherever they operate.”

“Treasury’s action focuses on those who have killed, or ordered the killing of innocents who stood up for human rights including journalists, opposition members, and lawyers,” said Deputy Secretary Justin G. Muzinich.

Building upon the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, on December 20, 2017, the US President signed E.O. 13818, in which the President found that the prevalence of human rights abuse and corruption which have their source, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United States, had reached such scope and gravity that it threatens the stability of international political and economic systems. Human rights abuse and corruption undermine the values that form an essential foundation of stable, secure, and functioning societies; have devastating impacts on individuals; weaken democratic institutions; degrade the rule of law; perpetuate violent conflicts; facilitate the activities of dangerous persons; and undermine economic markets.

The US seeks to impose tangible and significant consequences on those who commit serious human rights abuse or engage in corruption, as well as to

protect the financial system of the United States from abuse by these same persons, the report concluded. Details of the report

can be seen via this link: https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20191210.aspx