ISLAMABAD – Ilhan Omar, who made history as being one of the first Muslimwomen elected to serve in US Congress, arrives in Islamabad today on herfirst visit to the country during which the Democrat leader will meetPakistan’s top leadership.
Ilhan, a Somali-born former refugee, is reportedly scheduled to visit thecountry’s cultural capital Lahore and Azad Kashmir during her trip to theSouth Asian country.
Reports in local media quoting the Foreign Office said there has been noofficial announcement from Islamabad and Washington in this regard, whilethe duration of the trip is not yet known.
Meanwhile, the visit of the American politician to Azad Kashmir alsogarnered attention as she earlier pressed US senior diplomats for notspeaking against the long-standing campaign against Muslims in Indianoccupied Kashmir.
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‘Why no criticism of Modi government on human rights?’ she asked Bidenadministration. Omer also called for the restoration of democratic norms,human rights, and religious freedom, and de-escalation after Modi-ledgovernment abrogated articles 370 and 35A in respect of the Indian-heldstate of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Democrat leader also speaks out against Islamophobia and is a frequenttarget of extremist groups. Omar represents the State of Minnesota inCongress, one of the two Muslim women elected to the US Congress in 2018.
