Free Imran Khan;US Congressman Joe Wilson Demands
Wilson reiterates support for Imran Khan's release in House speech
KARACHI: US Republican Congressman Joe Wilson has urged the Pakistani leadership to release former Prime Minister Imran Khan, stating that it would strengthen US-Pakistan relations. In a letter sent to President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Wilson emphasized that Khan’s release would be a “major step” towards reinforcing bilateral ties between the two nations.
Wilson, representing South Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District, expressed his stance publicly on February 7 by posting the letter on X (formerly Twitter). Despite acknowledging his disagreements with Khan on certain issues, such as his support for the Chinese Communist Party and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Wilson emphasized that “democracy cannot work if political opponents are unjustly detained on politicized charges.”
In his appeal, Wilson urged Pakistan’s leaders to “uphold democratic institutions, human rights, and the rule of law,” and called for the release of Khan to help restore democratic ideals in Pakistan. He further stated that US-Pakistan relations have historically thrived when Pakistan embraced democracy.
Wilson’s appeal was followed by a speech on the floor of the US House of Representatives, reiterating his position on Khan’s detention and the detrimental impact it has had on Pakistan’s democracy. In his speech, Wilson also voiced concerns over Pakistan’s military undermining democracy by imprisoning the former prime minister and expressed support for Khan’s release.
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This is not the first time Wilson has advocated for Khan’s release. He had previously posted a “Free Imran Khan” message on X in January 2023. Wilson’s stance has garnered strong support from PTI followers but has also drawn criticism from some quarters, with detractors highlighting that US-Pakistan relations have historically been at their peak during military regimes in Pakistan.
