Islamabad: The Foreign Office of Pakistan has firmly rejected a recent statement by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) regarding Pakistan’s 26th constitutional amendment, characterizing it as based on misinformation and a lack of understanding about developments in the country. The Foreign Office emphasized that the OHCHR’s conclusions were drawn from media and social media sources, rather than verified information.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, in her weekly briefing, criticized the OHCHR’s statement as “unwarranted” and “misplaced.” She advised the OHCHR to address pressing human rights issues globally, particularly in regions where fundamental human rights are being actively suppressed by “draconian laws.”

In response to a question about the recent blacklisting of nearly two dozen Pakistani companies by the United States, Baloch termed the action “biased and politically motivated.” She asserted that previous listings were often based on unproven suspicions and involved goods that do not fall under established export control regimes. Baloch noted that while certain countries advocate for strict non-proliferation standards, they also make exceptions for advanced military technology transfers to favored nations, which, she argued, destabilizes global non-proliferation frameworks.

The spokesperson also confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, requesting a favorable review of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s mercy petition on humanitarian grounds. Pakistan, Baloch stated, has maintained contact with U.S. authorities to support Siddiqui’s welfare.

In response to a query on the status of Jammu and Kashmir, Baloch reiterated that Pakistan does not recognize the Indian constitution in the Indian-administered region and maintains that the future of Jammu and Kashmir should be decided.