More than 60 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have written a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to use Washington’s influence with Islamabad to advocate for the release of Imran Khan, the incarcerated founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 following his conviction in the Toshakhana case and subsequent sentencing in other cases ahead of the February 8 elections—allegations he denies.
Today, I led over 60 Members of Congress in a letter supporting human rights & democracy in Pakistan and calling for the release of political prisoners — including former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
— Congressman Greg Casar (@RepCasar) October 23, 2024
I am proud to have joined my colleagues in urging the Biden administration to support human rights and democracy in #Pakistan and calling for the release of #ImranKhan and other political prisoners.
Once again, I call for the U.S. Ambassador to visit Imran Khan in jail. https://t.co/xoxFNLgivJ
— Congressman Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) October 23, 2024
A group led by Congressman Greg Casar has urged the president to prioritize human rights in U.S. policy towards Pakistan.
In their statement, the members expressed their support for the immediate release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and condemned the widespread arbitrary detention of his party members and activists. They called on the Biden administration to secure guarantees from the Pakistani government regarding Khan’s safety and well-being and urged U.S. embassy officials to visit him in prison.
The letter, co-led by Jim McGovern and Summer Lee, includes signatures from prominent Democrats such as Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Barbara Lee, Brad Sherman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Ro Khanna, among others. They stated, “We stand in solidarity with our Pakistani American constituents, as well as community leaders and elected officials across the U.S. and around the world, in supporting the people of Pakistan in their struggle to establish a truly representative democracy.”
Mr. Casar is the same lawmaker who, in February of this year, spearheaded a group of approximately 30 U.S. Congress members in a letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, voicing their concerns about the fairness of the elections held on February 8.
On the same day, musician Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) also expressed his support for Imran Khan. In a tweet, he stated that Mr. Khan has been “illegally detained for over a year, and now he has been placed in solitary confinement for three weeks, in darkness, without even being allowed to take a walk.”
Oh, Imran! Our hearts are weeping for you. Please God, grant him light and the sweet air of freedom, again. He's been illegally held for over a year, and now they have put him in solitary confinement for 3 weeks, in darkness, without permission to even take a walk@ImranKhanPTI… pic.twitter.com/cTBQyqDVLp
— Yusuf / Cat Stevens (@YusufCatStevens) October 23, 2024
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This letter marks the first collective appeal from multiple members of Congress for Khan’s release, despite his historically tense relationship with Washington as a vocal critic of U.S. foreign policy. U.S. Representative Greg Casar, who spearheaded the letter, noted that following Khan’s removal from office through a no-confidence vote in 2022, numerous cases were filed against him, leading to his imprisonment in August 2023.
The letter also urged the U.S. administration to ensure Khan’s safety and well-being while in custody. Additionally, the lawmakers expressed concerns about alleged irregularities in Pakistan’s elections earlier this year. Although Pakistan’s government and its election commission denied accusations of unfair treatment and rigged elections, Washington stated that the February vote could not be considered free and fair, with similar concerns raised by Britain, the European Union, and the United Nations.
Read more: Wife of Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi granted bail in Toshakhana 2 case
Khan was disqualified from running in the elections after his conviction in the Toshakhana case, but candidates he supported secured the most seats. Nevertheless, rival parties PML-N and PPP formed a coalition government.
Pakistan condemns the letter from US lawmakers
Pakistan has strongly condemned the letter from U.S. lawmakers to President Joe Biden, which calls for the release of Imran Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The Foreign Office Spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, stated that such actions are “contrary to inter-state conduct and diplomatic norms.”
Baloch made these remarks during her weekly briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responding to inquiries about the letter from Democratic lawmakers regarding Pakistani politics. She emphasized that “Pakistan values its bilateral relationship with the United States and believes in constructive dialogue and engagement to address any concerns.”
However, she noted that comments on Pakistan’s domestic affairs do not align with proper diplomatic conduct. Baloch concluded that such letters and statements are counterproductive and do not contribute positively to the dynamics of Pakistan-U.S. relations.