Over 60 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Wednesday, urging him to push for the release of all political prisoners in Pakistan, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since his arrest in August last year.
The lawmakers highlighted that Pakistan’s parliamentary elections in February were marred by significant irregularities, including widespread electoral fraud, efforts by the state to disenfranchise voters, and the arrests of political leaders, journalists, and activists.
In the letter, they called for the immediate release of Khan and an end to the arbitrary detention of his supporters from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
“At the very least, we request that your administration secure guarantees from the Pakistani government regarding Khan’s safety and well-being, and we urge U.S. Embassy officials to visit him in prison,” the letter stated.
The lawmakers expressed deep concern over what they described as “ongoing, widespread human rights violations” in Pakistan following the parliamentary elections.
“Since the February vote, the situation has clearly shifted towards authoritarianism,” the letter continued. “In essence, Pakistan’s current system resembles ‘military rule with a civilian facade.'”
They also pointed out that the Pakistani government has ramped up its crackdown on social media and the internet, as part of a broader effort to suppress political activism and pressure journalists.
The letter was authored by Representative Greg Casar, with Representatives Jim McGovern and Summer Lee leading the effort. It describes the 72-year-old Khan as a political leader with significant support across Pakistan.
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