Pakistan has faced accusations of using transnational repression to silence dissidents living overseas, with a notable increase in such incidents since General Asim Munir assumed leadership of the army in November 2022. Analysts suggest that Munir has been driving this aggressive approach, particularly targeting individuals linked to former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. By portraying dissenters as significant threats, Munir justifies surveillance and violence against Pakistani citizens residing in other countries.
The 27th Constitutional Amendment of Pakistan, passed in late 2025, granted Munir lifetime immunity, established a compliant court, and removed judicial oversight, giving him extensive authority to target dissidents globally. The military’s tactics involve hunting, threatening, assaulting, and terrorizing critics abroad, while using their families in Pakistan as leverage to maintain control. This coercive strategy aims to psychologically break down opponents, enforce silence, and serve as a warning to others that exile does not guarantee safety.
Under Munir’s leadership, Pakistan’s military has escalated transnational repression, moving from legal harassment to organized violent actions in Western cities. These attacks, which include the use of firearms, arson, acid, and trained operatives, operate with the belief that democratic governments will not intervene. Recent incidents in the United Kingdom, where Pakistani dissidents were targeted, prompted Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command to investigate the assaults, which involved assaults, firearm incidents, attempted arson, and property damage.
Despite mounting evidence implicating Pakistan in transnational repression, Western responses have been criticized as inadequate, failing to address the alleged role of the Pakistani state in targeting dissidents abroad.
