Over 60 Democrat lawmakers urge Biden to secure Pakistan ex-pm Imran Khan's release from prison
Imran Khan
Over 60 Democratic lawmakers in the US House of Representatives on Wednesday (Oct 23) sent a letter to US President Joe Biden, urging him to use Washington's influence to advocate for the release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023.
US lawmakers allege human rights abuses
The lawmakers, led by Representative Greg Casar, said there was an urgent need for action against what they described as human rights abuses in Pakistan.
"We write today to 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 curtail widespread human rights abuses," they said in the letter.
Casar noted that this letter marks the first significant collective appeal from US Congress members for Khan's release, reports Reuters.
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The lawmakers also raised concerns about reported irregularities in Pakistan elections.
Washington claims that the February elections cannot be characterised as free and fair. The European Union, Britain and the United Nations have also raised similar concerns, however, Pakistan's election commission has refuted the allegations.
Imran Khan behind bars
The former Pakistan PM has been in jail since August 2023. Since his removal from office, Khan has been embroiled in multiple legal battles, including one for launching a protest movement against his political rival, the current prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif.
Khan, the PTI chief, claims that the cases which led to his disqualification from the February elections were politically motivated. The leader had a major fallout with the all-powerful Pakistan military and even blamed them for his ousting. The military has, however, denied political interference.
The Pakistani government has repeatedly denied being unfair to Khan. However, in July, a UN Human Rights working group, in an opinion, had called Khan's detention arbitrary and in violation of international law.
UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention had suggested that the "appropriate remedy would be to release Mr. Khan immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law."
