Pakistan Mulls Release of Imran Khan Amid Growing Domestic and Global Pressure.
In a surprising development, the Pakistani government has initiated talks with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which is led by the jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The move comes in the face of mounting internal pressure and a surge of global calls for Khan’s release from prominent figures worldwide.
The images of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi embracing PTI leader and Khan’s aide, Ali Amin Gandapur, just three weeks after the two stood on opposing sides during the fiery Islamabad protests, signal a significant shift in the country’s political landscape.
This long-awaited dialogue between the warring camps suggests that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and allegedly backed by the “army establishment”, may have finally conceded to some of PTI’s demands.
Among the issues reportedly on the table is the matter of not trying Imran Khan in a military court. While neither side has revealed the full scope of the discussions, Khan’s release is believed to be one of the top priorities.
The first round of meetings was aimed at easing the tensions between the rival factions, with the next round scheduled for January 2. The commencement of these talks comes against the backdrop of mounting international pressure, with influential voices from across the globe calling for Khan’s freedom.
The calls for Imran Khan’s release have been growing louder, with prominent figures from the United States, the United Kingdom, and beyond lending their support to the cause.
From Richard Grenell, a close ally of former US President Donald Trump, to British MP George Galloway and former UK Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn, a diverse array of global leaders have joined the chorus demanding Khan’s freedom.
“More and more global voices are being raised for the release of Imran Khan, who is in arbitrary and politically motivated detention in false and fabricated cases. Influential voices around the world are saying: FREE IMRAN KHAN!” the PTI party’s handle posted on the social media platform X.
Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s former First Minister, expressed his deep disturbance over the “continued imprisonment” of Khan during a recent address at the Oxford Union.
The calls for Imran Khan’s release have also been echoed by multilateral organizations and human rights bodies, further amplifying the pressure on the Pakistani government.
In July, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Khan’s detention is in violation of international law, emphasizing that his arrest had “no legal basis.” Amnesty International has also called on the Pakistani authorities to “immediately release Imran Khan from arbitrary pre-trial detention.”
The growing domestic and global pressure has seemingly forced the Pakistani establishment to engage in talks with the PTI party, signaling a potential shift in the government’s stance towards the former prime minister’s incarceration.
