Congressman Sherman Statement on the Killing of Dr. Anwar Leghari

Washington DC - Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement on the killing of Dr. Anwar Leghari, a leader of the Sindh United Party (SUP).

"I wish to express my sympathy to those who lost loved ones in the violence that accompanied local elections in the Sindh and Punjab provinces," said Congressman Sherman. "Among the five killed was Dr. Anwar Leghari - a leader of the Sindh United Party (SUP) - whose brother, Munawar (Sufi) Laghari, is a close personal friend with whom I have worked together on human rights issues concerning the Sindhi people in Pakistan. I know that Dr. Leghari, a physician, was a man of peace who sought to improve the lives of the Sindhi people."

"While it is not certain at this point who carried out these murders, I call on the Government of Pakistan to conduct a thorough investigation that brings the perpetrators to justice. The Government of Pakistan, from the highest levels down, must ensure that violence is not part of their elections processes, and must protect all election participants from violence, whatever its motivation."