Washington. Although US President Joe Biden will continue in his post for some time now, the troubles are not ending for him.
Nearly 50 US lawmakers have appealed to President Joe Biden to put pressure on the Pakistan government to release Imran Khan and other “political prisoners” before the end of his term. Biden’s tenure is till January 20. The ruling PML-N and coalition partner PPP have termed the letter as interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs. This letter, sent by 46 Democrat and Republican lawmakers on Friday, has been sent for the second time in less than a month. Unlike the first letter, which was supported only by Democrats, this letter was jointly initiated by Democratic Congresswoman Susan Wild and her Republican counterpart John James. Of the 46 signers of the letter, 20 are Republicans. The letter highlights Pakistan’s “deteriorating human rights situation” following the February 2024 elections, which were allegedly “false” and marred by “massive irregularities, electoral fraud, and state-induced repression of the PTI”. Were. US lawmakers “H. Race. 901,” a resolution passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in June 2024 that is seen as a framework for US action. The letter alleged that Pakistani authorities excluded PTI before the elections, rigged results that favored PTI-backed candidates, and suppressed election monitoring reports from international organizations such as the Commonwealth Observer Group and the European Union. . Since the elections, the letter noted that “the situation has worsened” and “severe restrictions on civil liberties, especially freedom of expression” have been imposed. It criticized mass arrests, arbitrary detentions and the use of “virtual firewalls” on social media platforms, as well as efforts to slow down internet speeds. The main point of appeal of the MPs was the detention of Imran Khan. The letter said that Imran Khan is considered “Pakistan’s most popular political figure”, whose arrest has sparked international criticism. US lawmakers cited the findings of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Amnesty International and other human rights organizations in demanding the immediate release of the PTI founder. Jailed PTI leaders Yasmin Rashid and Shah Mehmood Qureshi have also been mentioned in the letter. “We urge the US government to immediately advocate for the release of former Prime Minister Khan and all political prisoners,” the lawmakers stressed. Along with this, he also stressed the importance of ensuring their security as per the recommendations of the United Nations. Tags: Imran khan, Joe BidenFIRST PUBLISHED : November 17, 2024, 17:24 IST