- US lawmakers urge Biden for political prisoners’ launch in Pakistan.
- Biden urged to prioritise human rights in US coverage in direction of Pakistan.
- Lawmakers specific issues over alleged irregularities in Feb polls.
Greater than 60 members of the US Home of Representatives have written a letter to President Joe Biden, calling on him to make use of Washington’s leverage with Islamabad for the discharge of the incarcerated founding father of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan.
The PTI founder has been behind bars since August final yr after his conviction within the Toshakhana legal case and subsequent sentencing in different instances forward of the February 8 elections — allegations he denies.
Of their letter, the Democratic lawmakers urged President Biden to prioritise human rights in US coverage in direction of Pakistan.
“We write in the present day to induce you to make use of the US’ substantial leverage with Pakistan’s authorities to safe the discharge of political prisoners together with former Prime Minister Khan and curtail widespread human rights abuses,” the lawmakers mentioned.
The letter additionally made an attraction for US embassy officers to go to Imran, who’s at present behind bars at Adiala Jail.
The letter marked the primary such collective name from a number of members of the US Congress for the discharge of Imran, who in any other case has had testy relations with Washington as an extended standing critic of US overseas coverage, in line with US Consultant Greg Casar, who led the letter.
Casar famous that following Imran’s ouster from the prime minister’s workplace by means of a no-confidence vote in 2022, a number of instances had been filed towards him and he has been in jail since August 2023.
The letter additionally careworn on the US administration to hunt assurance from the federal government of Pakistan about Imran’s security and well-being in custody.
The Democratic lawmakers additionally raised issues about reported irregularities in Pakistan’s elections held earlier this yr.
Nevertheless, the federal government denied being unfair in remedy of the previous premier and its election fee additionally denied that the elections had been rigged.
Washington mentioned the February vote couldn’t be characterised as free and honest. Britain, the European Union and the United Nations additionally raised issues.
Imran was disqualified by the election watchdog after he was convicted within the Toshakhana case. Therefore, he didn’t contest the overall elections. Nevertheless, the candidates he backed secured the best variety of seats. Nonetheless, his rivals — the PML-N and PPP — shaped a coalition authorities.
— Extra inputs by Reuters