Islamabad-(Mudassar Iqbal): Over 60 Democratic lawmakers from the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Wednesday, urging him to leverage Washington’s influence with Pakistan to secure the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned.
In their letter, the lawmakers stated, “We write today to urge you to use the United States’ substantial leverage with Pakistan’s government to secure the release of political prisoners including former Prime Minister Khan and curtail widespread human rights abuses.”
This initiative, led by U.S. Representative Greg Casar, represents the first collective call from multiple members of Congress for Khan’s release. Khan, a long-time critic of U.S. foreign policy, has had a complicated relationship with Washington.
Since his ousting as prime minister in 2022, Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 and faces numerous legal challenges. He claims that the cases against him, which prevent him from participating in the February elections, are politically motivated. His conflict with Pakistan’s powerful military, which he blames for his removal, has further strained his position. The military, however, denies any political interference.
The Democratic lawmakers also expressed concerns regarding alleged irregularities in Pakistan’s elections. While the Pakistani government denies any unfair treatment of Khan and asserts that the elections were not rigged, U.S. officials have characterized the upcoming February vote as lacking the conditions for a free and fair process. Similar concerns have been raised by Britain, the European Union, and the United Nations.
Although Khan did not participate in the elections, candidates he supported won the most seats. Nevertheless, his opponents were able to establish a coalition government. A U.N. human rights working group indicated in July that Khan’s detention violates international law.
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