- FO hopes US Congress to play function in strengthening Pak-US ties.
- “Letters based mostly on incorrect understanding of Pak’s politics: spox.
- US lawmakers raises considerations on alleged ballot irregularities.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday strongly reacted to the US lawmakers’ letter to President Joe Biden looking for launch of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, terming the transfer “opposite to inter-state conduct and diplomatic norms”.
This assertion got here from International Workplace Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch whereas responding to a question associated to the Democratic lawmakers letter to US President Biden associated to Pakistani politics throughout her weekly briefing on the Ministry of International Affairs in the present day.
Via a letter, greater than 60 members of the US Home of Representatives had urged President Biden to make use of Washington’s leverage with Islamabad for the discharge of the incarcerated founding father of the previous ruling get together.
Baloch stated: “Pakistan values its bilateral relations with the US. We imagine in constructive dialogue and engagement to deal with any concern.”
“Nonetheless, feedback on Pakistan’s home affairs are opposite to inter-state conduct and diplomatic norms. We imagine such letters and statements are counter-productive and never according to optimistic dynamics of Pakistan-US bilateral relations.”
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 the 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 stated.
The letter additionally made an enchantment 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 a protracted standing critic of US international 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 way of a no-confidence vote in 2022, a number of instances have been filed in opposition to him and he has been in jail since August 2023.
The letter additionally burdened on the US administration to hunt assurance from the federal government of Pakistan about Imran’s security and well-being in custody.
Not solely Khan’s launch, the Democratic lawmakers had additionally raised considerations about reported irregularities in Pakistan’s elections held earlier this yr.
The FO spokesperson stated: “These letters are additionally based mostly on incorrect understanding of the political state of affairs in Pakistan.”
“We hope that the US Congress will play a supportive function in strengthening Pakistan-US ties and concentrate on avenues of mutual collaboration that profit each our peoples and international locations,” she added.