Washington. Although US President Joe Biden will remain in office for some time, the problems for him are never ending. Nearly 50 US lawmakers have appealed to President Joe Biden to pressure the Pakistani government to release Imran Khan and other “political prisoners” before the end of his term. Biden’s term runs until January 20th.

The ruling PML-N and coalition partner PPP describe the letter as interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs. This letter, sent by 46 Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Friday, was sent for the second time in less than a month.

Unlike the first letter, which was supported only by Democrats, this letter was co-initiated by Democratic Congresswoman Susan Wild and her Republican counterpart John James. Of the 46 signatories to the letter, 20 are Republicans. The letter highlights the “deteriorating human rights situation” in Pakistan following the February 2024 elections, which were allegedly “false” and marked by “massive irregularities, electoral fraud and state-induced repression of the PTI”.

US legislator “H. race. 901,” a resolution passed in June 2024 with overwhelming bipartisan support that serves as a framework for U.S. action. The letter alleged that Pakistani authorities excluded the PTI ahead of the elections, manipulated 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 election, the letter said “the situation has worsened” and “significant restrictions on civil liberties, particularly freedom of expression,” have been imposed. She criticized mass arrests, arbitrary detentions and the use of “virtual firewalls” on social media platforms, as well as efforts to slow internet speeds.

Imran Khan’s custody
The MPs’ main objection was the custody of Imran Khan. The letter said Imran Khan was considered “Pakistan’s most popular political figure” and whose arrest had drawn international criticism. US lawmakers cited the findings of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Amnesty International and other human rights organizations and called for the PTI founder’s immediate release.

Jailed PTI leaders Yasmin Rashid and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were also mentioned in the letter. “We urge the US government to immediately work for the release of former Prime Minister Khan and all political prisoners,” the lawmakers stressed. In addition, he also stressed the importance of ensuring their safety in accordance with United Nations recommendations.

Keywords: Imran Khan, Joe Biden