US says will respond ‘in due course’ to lawmakers’ call for Imran Khan’s release

ISLAMABAD: A US State Department official confirmed on Monday that the administration in Washington had received a letter from over 60 Democratic lawmakers urging President Joe Biden to secure the release of Pakistani political prisoners, including former prime minister Imran Khan, though he was reticent to discuss the likely response.
US lawmakers urged President Biden last week to address concerns over alleged irregularities in Pakistan’s February 8 general elections and opposition mistreatment, calling for human rights to be made a central pillar of US policy toward Pakistan.
However, the Pakistani authorities described the letter as “counterproductive,” saying it was not in line with the “positive dynamics” of ties between the two states.
Matthew Miller, the US State Department Spokesperson, was asked about the letter and the Biden administration’s position on it during a news conference.
“We’ve received it and will respond in due course to the members,” Miller responded succinctly.
He was asked about the recent release of ex-premier Khan’s wife and sisters from prison, where they were detained on various charges last week, as the questioner wondered if the development was linked to US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy and Human Rights Monica Jacobsen’s recent meeting with Pakistan’s federal human rights secretary in Islamabad.
“So, all I will say about that is that the deputy assistant secretary in that meeting emphasized the important role of human rights, support for a vibrant civil society, and strong democratic institutions play in our comprehensive US-Pakistan relationship,” the State Department official said.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has frequently complained about facing a state crackdown, with several top leaders imprisoned for over a year, including the former prime minister, who has been tried in multiple cases ranging from treason to corruption.
Khan says all cases against him are fabricated to keep him out of politics.
The PTI also maintains it was not allowed to campaign freely ahead of the last general elections, which were marred by a mobile Internet shutdown on election day and unusually delayed results, leading to accusations of rigging and raising concerns from rights groups and foreign governments.