Two US Congress members, Joe Wilson and August Pfluger, have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to engage with Pakistan’s military leadership for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
According to reports, they wrote a joint letter to Rubio on February 25, calling Imran Khan’s imprisonment politically motivated. They argued that his removal via a no-confidence motion in 2022 weakened democracy in Pakistan and strained US-Pakistan relations.
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Joe Wilson, in a social media post, expressed satisfaction in working with Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger to push for Imran Khan’s release and the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. He emphasized that strong US-Pakistan ties should be based on freedom.
Wilson, a House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committee member, co-signed the letter with Pfluger, who chairs the Republican Study Committee. They raised concerns over Khan’s imprisonment and its effect on bilateral relations.
The letter highlighted Khan’s popularity in Pakistan and suggested that his release could improve US-Pakistan ties. Comparing him to former US President Donald Trump, they claimed Khan was also a victim of judicial overreach.
They urged Rubio to advocate for democracy, human rights, rule of law, press freedom, and political expression in Pakistan. They insisted Khan should not be jailed for his political stance.
Previously, Wilson had called for Khan’s release and shared the letter sent to Rubio, hoping for strengthened US-Pakistan relations based on mutual respect for freedom.
The letter concluded by linking US-Pakistan relations to Khan’s release and urging Rubio to take action.
