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U.S. Urges Pakistan To Probe Death Of Lawyer


Activists from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) hold candles and placards during a protest in Islamabad on May 8 against the killing of Pakistani lawyer Rashid Rehman.
Activists from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) hold candles and placards during a protest in Islamabad on May 8 against the killing of Pakistani lawyer Rashid Rehman.
The United States has urged Pakistan to thoroughly investigate the killing of a human rights lawyer.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington was "deeply saddened by the murder of Rashid Rehman."

Rehman was shot dead by two unidentified attackers late on May 7 in his office in southern Punjab Province.

Rehman was the coordinator for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

The senior lawyer had been representing a client accused of blasphemy. Rehman said he had been receiving death threats over the case.

Lawyers defending blasphemy cases in Pakistan often receive death threats from extremist elements.

Law firms across Pakistan have gone on strike to protest the killing of Rehman.
Based on reporting by AFP and RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal
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