Forty-six US Congress members have written to President Joe Biden, voicing serious concerns over the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan and the deteriorating human rights situation in Pakistan.
The letter alleges systematic human rights abuses and democratic backsliding in Pakistan, urging the US government to take action. It highlights alleged manipulation in the February 2024 general elections, citing widespread electoral irregularities and claims of institutional targeting of the PTI.
Lawmakers criticized the withholding of reports by Commonwealth observers and the European Union, expressing alarm over restricted public freedoms, illegal detentions, mass arrests, and social media curbs. Imran Khan’s detention was described as unlawful, with the letter underscoring his popularity as Pakistan’s leading political figure. The ongoing custody of other senior PTI leaders, including Yasmin Rashid and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, was also condemned.
The Congress members urged a review of US embassy policies in Islamabad, criticizing the embassy for not reflecting the concerns of the Pakistani-American community and for its positive stance toward Pakistan’s new government. They called on Biden to push for the release of political prisoners, including Imran Khan, and to instruct the incoming US ambassador to prioritize human rights and democratic values.
The letter emphasized growing concern in Congress over Pakistan’s democratic and human rights crisis, calling on the US administration to take swift action.
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