In a significant move, 46 members of the US Congress have called on President Joe Biden to advocate for the immediate release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and all political prisoners in the country, demanding their safety in accordance with the findings of the UN Working Group report.
The lawmakers, from both major political parties, sent a letter to President Biden on Friday urging him to take action on the provisions of H. Res. 901, a resolution passed by the US House of Representatives in June 2023. This resolution, which emphasizes human rights concerns in Pakistan, had previously been met with criticism from the Pakistani government, which argued that it was based on a “flawed understanding” of the country’s political situation and electoral process.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by Imran Khan, shared the letter on its official social media platform, noting that the bipartisan letter was spearheaded by Representatives Susan Wild and John James. The letter also criticized the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, accusing him of failing to represent the concerns of the Pakistani-American community, particularly regarding the release of political prisoners and the restoration of democratic principles.
In their letter, the US lawmakers referred to H. Res. 901, which called for a reassessment of US policy towards Pakistan, citing widespread human rights violations, electoral fraud, and the suppression of the PTI. The lawmakers pointed to the February 2024 elections, which they described as “flawed” due to irregularities, electoral fraud, and the suppression of PTI supporters, including disenfranchising candidates and manipulating precinct-level results.
The letter further highlighted the erosion of civil liberties in Pakistan, particularly the use of mass arrests, arbitrary detentions, and internet censorship. The lawmakers expressed grave concern over the unlawful detention of Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 on charges ranging from corruption to terrorism. They also noted that many PTI leaders, such as Yasmin Rashid and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, have been detained for over a year.
“Given these alarming developments, we believe a change in approach by the US Embassy in Islamabad is urgently needed,” the letter stated.
This follows a similar letter sent last month by 60 members of the US House of Representatives, urging President Biden to leverage US influence to secure Khan’s release. These calls mark a rare instance of bipartisan support for Imran Khan in the US, a leader who has long had contentious relations with Washington due to his critical stance on US foreign policy.
The lawmakers urged President Biden to prioritize human rights in US policy towards Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of securing the release of political prisoners like Khan and addressing the ongoing human rights abuses.
