Viral posts circulating online alleged that Kasim Khan, son of former prime minister Imran Khan, called for Pakistan’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status to be revoked during a United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva on March 25. The claim was amplified by political figures, including Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Punjab Assembly member Hina Pervaiz Butt, who criticised him over the supposed remarks.
GSP+ is a European Union trade arrangement that allows developing countries to export goods to the EU market without tariffs, provided they meet certain human rights and governance standards.
However, the claim does not hold up under scrutiny. A review of the full UN Human Rights Council session shows that Kasim Khan did not call for the suspension or withdrawal of Pakistan’s GSP+ status. The widely shared video clip appears to have been edited from a longer broadcast, giving a misleading impression of his remarks.
In his speech during the session, Kasim Khan focused on concerns about political repression and the imprisonment of his father, Imran Khan. He spoke about alleged human rights issues, including detention conditions, but made no reference to requesting action against Pakistan’s trade status.
He also addressed a separate side event on the same day, where he again discussed human rights concerns. His only mention of GSP+ was in the context of Pakistan’s obligations under international agreements tied to the programme. He...
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