In a significant development, 46 members of the US Congress have urged President Joe Biden to advocate for the release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and other political prisoners. They emphasized the need to align US actions with findings from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The bipartisan appeal, highlighted in a letter led by Representatives Susan Wild and John James, called for immediate steps to act on “H. Res. 901,” passed by the House of Representatives in June 2024.
The lawmakers raised concerns over escalating human rights violations in Pakistan, especially after the February 2024 elections, which were marred by alleged irregularities, electoral fraud, and state-led suppression of Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). They criticized the disenfranchisement of PTI and the reversal of precinct-level results that initially showed strong support for PTI-aligned candidates.
The letter condemned Pakistan’s crackdown on civil liberties, including mass arrests, arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on freedom of expression. It also pointed to a de facto firewall against social media platforms and reduced internet speeds, further stifling dissent.
Imran Khan, described in the letter as “Pakistan’s most popular political figure,” has been imprisoned since August 2023 on charges ranging from corruption to terrorism. Many senior PTI leaders, such as Yasmin Rashid and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, have also been detained. The lawmakers expressed frustration over the perceived inaction of US Ambassador Donald Blome, urging a shift in approach at the US Embassy in Islamabad to address these issues.
The Congress members emphasized the importance of US leverage in advocating for human rights and democratic principles in Pakistan. They criticized the lack of efforts to incorporate concerns from the Pakistani-American community and demanded a stronger stance in support of political freedoms.
The Pakistani government, however, dismissed the resolution as based on a misinterpretation of the country’s political and electoral processes. PPP Senator Sherry Rehman condemned the letter, calling it interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs and a challenge to the nation’s judicial and political independence. She accused PTI of inviting foreign intervention through lobbying efforts, which she argued undermined Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Rehman and Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon criticized PTI for its contradictory narratives, pointing out that the party, which previously accused the US of engineering Khan’s ouster in 2022, is now seeking American support for his release. The PPP leaders also condemned PTI’s lobbying campaigns in the US as an attempt to pressure Islamabad through external means.
The appeal from US lawmakers marks a notable international response to Pakistan’s ongoing political and human rights challenges, further intensifying the debate on the role of foreign influence in domestic affairs.
