United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed a hope for a more positive development in the current situation involving former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, as conveyed by his spokesperson.
Speaking at a press conference, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric addressed the Secretary-General’s stance on the recent recommendation by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention for Imran Khan’s immediate release. Dujarric acknowledged it as a recommendation from an independent panel and emphasized the UN’s desire to see Khan’s political and legal circumstances improve.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention had previously declared the charges against Imran Khan as lacking legal basis and politically motivated to sideline him from political activities. They recommended his release and compensation, marking international disapproval of the government’s actions against Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
These developments followed a resolution from the United States urging Pakistan to investigate allegations of electoral irregularities in the February 8 elections.
In response, however, the Pakistani government and its supporters dismissed the UN working group’s recommendations regarding Imran Khan’s detention, describing it as a conspiracy against national institutions. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar asserted that Imran Khan’s detention was an internal matter and defended the government’s actions as constitutionally and legally justified.
The situation underscores ongoing international scrutiny of Pakistan’s political and legal processes, with divergent views on the legitimacy of Imran Khan’s detention and the actions taken by the government. As the debate continues, the UN’s call for a positive evolution in Khan’s situation reflects broader concerns over human rights and due process in Pakistan’s political landscape.
