The Biden administration confirmed on Tuesday that it received a letter from more than 60 United States (US) Congress members urging the White House to advocate for the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed the letter’s receipt during a briefing and stated that the administration would “respond in due course.”
The letter, led by prominent Congress members such as Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, called on President Biden to secure guarantees from Pakistani authorities for Imran’s safety in custody.
Imran, who was removed as Pakistan’s prime minister in 2022 and has faced numerous legal cases since was imprisoned in August 2023.
PTI has said that the more than 200 cases are politically motivated.
The incarcerated former premier has been acquitted or granted bail in most of the cases filed against him.
The pending cases against him mostly pertain to the May 9 violence.
Miller further noted that the US supports a “sustained democracy” in Pakistan, adding that a recent meeting between US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy and Human Rights Monica Jacobson and Pakistan’s Human Rights Secretary in Islamabad focused on fundamental rights and freedoms.
The spokesperson declined to comment on claims that the release of Khan’s wife and sisters from detention was linked to US involvement, stating only that discussions covered “support for a vibrant civil society and strong democratic institutions.”
The Congress letter also urged the US government to ensure that its policy towards Pakistan prioritises human rights protections and emphasised the importance of diplomatic visits to monitor Khan’s condition in prison.
On October 24, around 60 Democratic lawmakers from the US House of Representatives wrote to President Joe Biden urging him to pressure Pakistan into releasing Imran Khan, the jailed founding chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
“We write today to 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 curtail widespread human rights abuses,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter on Wednesday.
US Representative Greg Casar, who led the letter, said it marked the first such collective call from multiple members of the US Congress for the release of Khan, who otherwise has had testy relations with Washington as a long-standing critic of US foreign policy.
The political turmoil surrounding Imran escalated following his arrest on May 9, 2023, on corruption charges, which sparked widespread violent protests from his supporters and party leaders, including an assault on the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the burning of a corps commander’s residence in Lahore.
Following the unrest, Imran, in a purported audio conversation that surfaced on social media was heard reaching out to US Congresswoman Maxine Moore Waters, imploring her to advocate against the reported human rights abuses in Pakistan.
The ex-prime minister expressed concerns over what he said was an escalating crackdown on PTI members that began shortly after violence that followed his arrest.
Meanwhile, the Democratic lawmakers also raised concerns about reported irregularities in Pakistan’s elections.
