The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is placing its hopes on the new US administration for assistance in securing the release of party founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who remains incarcerated. In a recent interview, PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari expressed his intentions to raise the issue of Khan’s alleged mistreatment before the incoming US government.
Bukhari, who serves as Khan’s adviser on international affairs, revealed that he has been in contact with former President Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her husband, Jared Kushner. Bukhari plans to personally travel to Washington to meet with Trump’s family and discuss the injustices faced by Khan and PTI, including the legal challenges Khan is currently enduring in Pakistan.
However, former Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed skepticism about the US administration’s involvement in his release. Speaking to reporters earlier at Adiala Jail, Khan stated, “I hope that Trump will at least be neutral and not align with Joe Biden’s stance. The matter of my release will be resolved within Pakistan, not through the United States.”
Bukhari, on the other hand, remains optimistic about the potential influence of the Trump administration. He emphasized that, following Trump’s inauguration, he plans to engage with Trump’s team on broader issues related to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Pakistan. Bukhari also claimed that Trump had previously expressed concerns over the legal troubles facing Khan.
Meanwhile, former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry shared a similar viewpoint, suggesting that the US had already taken a stance on the “unfair trials” Khan is facing. Chaudhry voiced his belief that Trump would intervene to help secure Khan’s release, referencing congressional resolutions that have addressed the issue.
Chaudhry also noted that members of the opposition PML-N had been removing old social media posts following Trump’s election victory, hinting at their concerns over potential US intervention. He reiterated his hope that the Government of Pakistan would honor its constitutional and international human rights obligations, ensuring that the people’s decisions are respected.
Opposition Leader Omar Ayub also congratulated Trump on his election victory, expressing hope for improved relations between Pakistan and the United States under his leadership.
In response to PTI’s comments, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif dismissed the notion that the US could play a role in Khan’s release, stating that Pakistan could not be forced to comply with outside demands. PTI leader Asad Qaiser, in turn, responded to Asif’s remarks by saying, “Asif is at an age where he should not be taken seriously.”
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch also clarified that any speculation regarding foreign interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs was “incorrect.” Qaiser added that PTI remains focused on its own struggle and would not allow external interference in Pakistan’s matters, emphasizing the party’s commitment to resolving the issue domestically.
