U.S. lawmakers urge Biden to press Pakistan for Imran Khan's release
WASHINGTON DC, USA – Around 60 Democratic legislators in the United States House of Representatives have written to President Joe Biden, requesting him to put pressure on Pakistan to release Imran Khan, the incarcerated founder chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
“We write today to ask 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,” the congressmen stated in a letter on Wednesday.
U.S. Representative Greg Casar, who led the letter, claimed it was the first time numerous members of Congress had issued a concerted request for Khan’s release, even though Khan has had strained relations with Washington as a long-time critic of U.S. foreign policy.
Imran has been in jail since August 2023 and has faced hundreds of charges since being dismissed from his role as prime minister in April 2022 following a parliamentary vote of no confidence.
His party claims that the more than 200 cases are politically motivated.
He has been acquitted or granted bail in most cases brought against him.
The pending cases against him are related mainly to the May 9 violence.
Khan has denied responsibility and has been acquitted or granted bail in numerous cases.
Imran claims that the cases brought against him, which banned him from running in the February 2024 elections, are politically motivated.
In July, a U.N. human rights working panel concluded that Imran’s incarceration breached international law.
Imran blamed his ouster on the Pakistani military, accusing it of following U.S. orders.
He singled out top U.S. diplomat Donald Lu for allegedly orchestrating his removal from power via a no-confidence vote.
The U.S. govt and Pakistani military both have denied any role in Imran Khan’s removal.
The political turmoil surrounding Imran erupted after his arrest on corruption charges on May 9, 2023, which sparked widespread violent protests by his supporters and party leaders, including an assault on the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the burning of a corps commander’s residence in Lahore.