Congress members write another letter to Biden over Imran Khan's detention
Former prime minister Imran Khan addressing party supporters from his residence in Lahore's Zaman Park on May 24, 2023. SCREENGRAB
Forty-six members of the US Congress have written another letter to President Joe Biden, expressing grave concern over the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and the broader human rights situation in Pakistan.
The letter accuses Pakistan of ongoing human rights violations and the erosion of democratic values, urging immediate action from the US government.
The lawmakers raised concerns over the alleged rigging of the February 2024 general elections, citing widespread electoral fraud, irregularities, and accusations that government institutions were targeting PTI.
The Congress members also expressed dissatisfaction over reports from Commonwealth observers and the European Union being withheld from the public. They further criticised the Pakistani authorities for restricting public freedoms, particularly freedom of expression, and noted large-scale arrests, illegal detentions, and social media restrictions.
The letter highlighted the unlawful detention of former prime minister Imran Khan, describing him as Pakistan’s most popular political leader. It also pointed out that other senior PTI leaders, including Yasmin Rashid and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, have been in custody for over a year.
The members of Congress called for a review of US embassy policies in Islamabad, expressing disappointment that the concerns of the Pakistani-American community were not being reflected in the embassy’s stance. They also criticised the embassy’s swift positive statements about the new government in Pakistan.
The letter urges President Biden to take action to stop human rights abuses in Pakistan, calling for the immediate release of political prisoners, including Imran Khan. The Congress members also demanded that the new US ambassador to Pakistan be tasked with promoting human rights and democratic values.
The Congress members stressed that the letter underscores the growing concern in the US Congress about the crisis in democracy and human rights in Pakistan, urging the US administration to take immediate notice and advance its policy on human rights and democracy restoration.