Over 60 Democratic lawmakers in the US House of Representatives, in a letter to President Joe Biden dated October 23, called on him to use Washington’s heft in pressing for the immediate release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been behind bars since August this year.
In the letter penned by Rep Greg Casar, the lawmakers referred to the need for an immediate response against human rights abuses that they claimed were going on in Pakistan: “We write today to urge the use of the United States substantial leverage with Pakistan government to secure the release of political prisoners, including former Prime Minister Khan, and to curtail rampant human rights abuses,” the letter said.
Casar said the letter marked the first major combined call by US Congress members for his release, according to Reuters. The legislators further expressed concerns over alleged election irregularities in Pakistan, saying the February elections could not be called free and fair. Similar accusations have been made by the European Union, Britain, and the United Nations, though the Election Commission of Pakistan has rejected those claims.
He has been in jail since August 2023, when he was ousted from power. Khan has multiple cases against him involving various criminal charges, including one regarding the protest movement against his political opponent and current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Against this enormous fallout between the powerful Pakistani military and PTI party leader Khan, he considered the cases that led to his disqualification in the February elections politically motivated. Khan blamed the military for his ouster; the latter has denied involvement in political affairs.
Although the government of Pakistan has persistently denied mistreating Khan in any way, a UN Human Rights working group declared his detention arbitrary and in breach of international law. It said the proper remedy would be for Khan’s immediate release, including compensation and reparations provided under international law.
