More than 60 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to leverage Washington’s influence with Islamabad to secure the release of Imran Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 after being convicted in the Toshakhana case, along with facing other charges ahead of the upcoming elections on February 8, 2024. He has consistently denied these allegations.
In their letter, the Democratic lawmakers emphasized the need for the Biden administration to prioritize human rights in its dealings with Pakistan. They wrote, “We 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 to address widespread human rights abuses.”
The lawmakers also called for U.S. embassy officials to be granted access to Khan, who is currently held at Adiala Jail. This collective appeal marks a significant moment, as it is the first time multiple members of Congress have formally called for Khan’s release, despite his historically tense relationship with Washington, due to his criticism of U.S. foreign policy.
U.S. Representative Greg Casar, who spearheaded the letter, highlighted that after Khan’s ouster through a no-confidence vote in 2022, numerous legal cases were filed against him.
Additionally, the letter raised concerns regarding reported irregularities in Pakistan’s recent elections. While the Pakistani government has denied mistreatment of Khan and claims of election rigging, the U.S. has characterized the February vote as not free and fair.
Other international bodies, including the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United Nations, have echoed these concerns.
Khan was disqualified from contesting in the general elections due to his conviction, but candidates he supported managed to secure a significant number of seats. Nonetheless, rival parties, the PML-N and PPP, formed a coalition government.
