ISLAMABAD: An American congressman on Tuesday raised concern over Pakistan’s handling of former prime minister Imran Khan’s political party in a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, saying that the frequent detention of opposition politicians was “closing space for free speech” in the South Asian country.
The government cracked down against Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in recent months after the former premier started agitating for fresh national elections since his ouster from power in a parliamentary no-confidence vote last April.
Some of Khan’s closest aides, including his former chief of staff Shahbaz Gill and senior PTI vice president Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, have since been arrested and released in recent months amid allegations of custodial torture. The former prime minister himself has been facing a slew of cases and has taken protective bail to avoid arrest.
In his letter to Secretary Blinken, Congressman Brad Sherman said the human rights of the Pakistani people were at stake.
“I am particularly alarmed by incidents over the last year, especially the alleged torture and even sexual abuse of political figures such as former PM Khan’s Chief of Staff Shahbaz Gill and journalist Jameel Farooqui,” he said. “Thankfully, they both were released, but the chilling effect of their detention and treatment continues to resonate.”
“Equally concerning are the multiple cases against Mr. Khan, the use of force against his supporters, the detention of protesters under sweeping counter-terrorism laws, and the closing space for free speech,” he continued.
Sherman, who wrote the letter after a telephone conversation with the ex-PM, also raised concern over suspension of broadcast by private news channels.
He also mentioned a recent statement by interior minister Rana Sanaullah wherein he said that Khan would be eliminated from the political arena.
The US congressman maintained the Pakistani authorities were trying to delay elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces while describing it as “another sign of skirting democratic processes.”
So far, the Pakistan government has not issued any statement in response to the letter.
According to recent media reports, Khan, who previously blamed the administration in Washington for his ouster, engaged lobbyists in the United States in recent months to create a more favorable perception about him within the US government and policy circles.
