Forty-six members of the US Congress have addressed another letter to President Joe Biden, advocating for the release of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, while expressing concerns about the broader human rights situation in the country. The letter highlights ongoing human rights violations and the deterioration of democratic values in Pakistan, urging the US government to take expeditious action.
In their correspondence, the American legislators expressed serious concerns about electoral manipulation during the February general elections. They alleged widespread irregularities and systematic targeting of the PTI by government institutions.
The Congress members criticized Pakistani authorities for restricting freedom of expression, citing widespread arrests, illegal detentions, and social media restrictions.
The letter characterizes Imran Khan as Pakistan’s most popular political leader and addresses his allegedly unlawful detention. It also highlights the prolonged detention of other senior PTI leaders, including Yasmin Rashid and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who have been incarcerated for over a year.
The congressional representatives called for a review of US Embassy policies in Islamabad. The letter urges President Biden to take measures to end human rights violations in Pakistan and demands the immediate release of Imran Khan and other political prisoners. This follows a similar letter signed by over fifty US legislators in October seeking Khan’s release.
Imran Khan was ousted from power through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022. Subsequently, he faced numerous cases in various Pakistani courts and was arrested in May last year. He is currently detained in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Prison.
Speculation continues about whether his trial will proceed in military or civilian courts. The Dawn reported that UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy addressed these concerns in a letter to a Labour Party member, indicating that there had been no suggestion of trying Khan in a military court.
PTI leader Sayed Zulfi Bukhari publicly revealed this letter on Saturday. He told Dawn that Lammy’s letter suggests the UK government values the principle that no legitimate democratic government should maintain military courts.
In his November 11 letter to Labour MP Kim Johnson, Lammy stated, “While Pakistan’s judicial processes are an internal matter, we have been very clear that Pakistani authorities must respect their international obligations and fundamental freedoms, including the right to a fair trial, due process, and humane detention.” Lammy emphasized this applies to all Pakistani citizens, including Imran Khan.
Last month, 20 cross-party UK MPs wrote to Foreign Secretary Lammy urging action for Khan’s release. The letter, led by Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson, argued that Khan’s detention lacks legal basis and is politically motivated.
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