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.
US says will respond ‘in due course’ to lawmakers’ call for Imran Khan’s release
https://arab.news/8knuk
US says will respond ‘in due course’ to lawmakers’ call for Imran Khan’s release
- US lawmakers wrote to Biden last week, asking him to secure release of political prisoners in Pakistan
- Matthew Miller highlights Washington’s interest in strong Pakistani civil society, democratic institutions
Pakistan Supreme Court halts trial of prominent lawyer over alleged anti-military tweets
- Top court orders lower court to pause proceedings after lawyers allege due-process breaches
- Mazari-Hazir, husband face charges under cybercrime law that carry up to 14 years in prison
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday halted the cybercrime trial of prominent human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, after their lawyers argued that a lower court had recorded witness testimony in their absence, violating due-process rules.
Mazari-Hazir, one of Pakistan’s most outspoken civil liberties lawyers, and Chattha are being prosecuted under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) over posts on X that authorities say incited ethnic divisions and portrayed the military as involved in “terrorism.” Both reject the allegations. If convicted under the relevant PECA provision, they face a prison term of up to 14 years.
The case has drawn broad attention in Pakistan’s legal community because Mazari-Hazir, who has been repeatedly detained over her criticism of the security establishment, argues that the trial court ignored basic procedural guarantees despite her medical leave request. The case also comes as Pakistan faces sustained scrutiny over the use of PECA against activists, journalists and political dissenters, with lawyers arguing that lower courts often move ahead without meeting minimum fair-trial standards.
The couple’s lawyer, Riasat Ali Azad, said his clients filed a petition in the Supreme Court because the lower court had moved ahead improperly.
“Today, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has stayed the lower court proceedings, the trial court proceedings and has said that the [Islamabad] High Court should decide our pending revision petition for which a date has already been fixed,” he told reporters.
Azad said the violation was clear under Pakistan’s Code of Criminal Procedure, which requires evidence to be recorded in the presence of the accused.
“Yet, on that very day, evidence of four witnesses was recorded in their absence, and a state counsel was appointed to conduct cross-examination on their behalf,” he said. “All these things are against the right to a fair trial under Articles 10 and 10-A.”
A three-judge bench led by Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar ordered the trial court to pause proceedings and instructed the Islamabad High Court to hear the couple’s pending criminal revision petition first.
The trial had been scheduled to resume on Dec.15, but the Supreme Court’s stay now freezes proceedings before both the additional sessions judge and the special PECA court.
The Islamabad High Court is expected to hear the criminal revision petition next week.
Chattha, who is also a lawyer, said the SC ruling underscored the need for procedural safeguards.
“It is a victory for the constitution and the law,” he said, arguing that the trial court had ignored their request to re-record witness statements in their presence.
