The U.S. administration has confirmed the receipt of a letter from members of Congress regarding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller acknowledged that President Joe Biden had received the letter and promised that a response would be provided “in due course.”
Miller emphasized the U.S. position on democracy, affirming that democratic participation is a fundamental right for all citizens. “We want to see democracy flourish in Pakistan,” he stated. When asked about recent discussions led by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Monica Jacobsen in Islamabad, Miller noted that she had underscored the importance of prioritizing human rights in Pakistan. Her meetings also addressed the critical role of civil society in upholding democratic institutions.
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In the past week, over 60 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent an open letter to President Biden, urging him to leverage Washington’s influence to advocate for the release of political prisoners, including Imran Khan. “We urge 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 to curtail widespread human rights abuses,” they wrote. U.S. Representative Greg Casar, who spearheaded the letter, stated that it marked the first collective call by multiple members of Congress for Khan’s release. Khan, a longstanding critic of U.S. foreign policy, has been imprisoned since August 2023 and faces numerous charges since his ousting as prime minister in 2022—a removal he claims was politically motivated.
Following his dismissal, Khan alleged that the Pakistani military played a role in his removal, though the military denies any political involvement. The Democratic lawmakers also expressed concerns about electoral irregularities in Pakistan. While Pakistan’s election commission and government deny any bias in Khan’s treatment or election processes, international bodies, including the United Nations, European Union, and Britain, have raised concerns about the fairness of the February vote. Though Khan himself did not contest, candidates he supported won the most seats, yet his rivals formed a coalition government.
In July, a UN human rights working group declared Khan’s detention a violation of international law.
