Richard Branson, the English magnate and the founder of Virgin Group, calls for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In the latest tweet on Monday night, Branson called for the release of Imran Khan from jail. “It’s not cricket. @ImranKhanPTI should be released immediately by Pakistan’s authorities. His arbitrary detention casts a dark shadow on respect for democracy and the rule of law in Pakistan,” said Branson in his tweet.
He shared an article published in Time Magazine on October 16th, 2024, regarding Imran Khan’s health concerns in jail. Soon after his ex-wife Jemima Khan posted a tweet about the alarming situation of Imran Khan’s health in jail, an international campaign calling for his release kicked off.
In her tweet, Jemima called for the release of Imran Khan and his sisters Aleema Khanum and Uzma Khanum. “He is now completely isolated, in solitary confinement, literally in the dark, with no contact with the outside world,” she wrote. “His lawyers are concerned about his safety and well-being.”
Her tweet garnered the attention of influential figures on social media, who joined the call for his release. Meanwhile, Richard Branson calling for the release of Imran Khan posted an old picture with him. Branson’s tweet garnered 1.1 million views.
PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari extended gratitude to Richard Branson for raising his voice for Imran Khan. Commenting on his tweet, Bukhari said: “Thank you for speaking out Sir @richardbranson. Rule of law and democracy is on the brink of extinction in Pakistan. The only person keeping them breathing is Imran Khan.”
Read more: Adiala Jail Rejects Claims of Mistreatment, Discloses Imran Khan’s Prison Conditions and Amenities
The official Twitter account of PTI to thanked Branson and said, “Thank you,@richardbranson, for raising your voice for Imran Khan, who is not only a national hero, and an international icon but a symbol of hope for millions of Pakistanis.”
“It has been over 400 days since he was unlawfully incarcerated under the worst conditions, despite his cases being overturned by the higher courts. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and Amnesty International along with millions of voices from people across the globe, are calling for the immediate release of Imran Khan, as his detention violates international laws.”
“More and more people from around the world MUST continue to raise their voices for Imran Khan as he fights for democracy and the rule of law in Pakistan,” read the tweet by PTI.