US Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina made a statement on the floor of the House that has added complexity to the situation for PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Wilson, who recently voiced his support for Khan’s release, stirred controversy by linking the PTI chief with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping—two major adversaries of the United States. Wilson’s speech calling for “Free Imran Khan” was shared on his X handle and garnered attention, especially from PTI supporters, some of whom found it challenging to explain to Wilson and the broader Western audience that Khan’s ties to China were not as strong as perceived.
In Pakistan, however, Khan may gain domestic support from those who see the accusations of his alignment with Russia and China as a means of boosting his stature. When Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022, he and his supporters alleged that the removal was connected to his visit to Moscow, which occurred just before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There were claims that the United States played a role in his downfall, though this was prior to Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election. Now, PTI supporters are hopeful that Washington will exert pressure on Islamabad to secure Imran Khan’s release.
Wilson, in his speech, seemed to align himself with the Trump administration, drawing parallels between Trump’s challenges and Khan’s current situation. He stated, “There are strong disagreements with Mr. Khan, including his weak policies toward war criminal Putin and the Chinese Communist Party. But political opponents should be defeated in democratic elections, not imprisoned or falsely charged.”
He further referenced Trump’s struggles, saying, “President Donald Trump survived a corrupt judicial system and has been persecuted. He understands the dangers of such persecution. Pakistan should release Imran Khan and restore democracy. Free Imran Khan!”
Wilson also asserted that the Pakistani military was responsible for Khan’s imprisonment, although this claim might raise doubts. His comments on US-Pakistan relations were also controversial. He claimed that the relationship between the two countries was at its strongest when Pakistan was under democratic rule, stating, “Pakistan has been an appreciated partner of the United States for 70 years, and our relationship is strongest when Pakistan embraces democratic principles and the rule of law.” This perspective overlooks the fact that the US has historically supported military rulers in Pakistan, such as Ayub Khan, Zia-ul-Haq, and Pervez Musharraf.
To emphasize his point, Wilson compared Khan’s plight to Trump’s past struggles. During his one-minute speech, Wilson read from a prepared statement while images of Russian, Chinese, North Korean, and Iranian leaders were displayed beside him.
Earlier this month, Wilson also sent a letter to Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Army Chief General Asim Munir, urging the release of Imran Khan. He argued that such a move would significantly strengthen US-Pakistan relations.
