Legal action against Imran a matter for Pakistani courts: US

WASHINTON: Reacting to the demand from American lawmakers and former US envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad for the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, the State Department clarified on Tuesday that the decision regarding legal action against the former prime minister was to be made by Pakistani courts.

“We do not comment on Congressional correspondence ... legal proceedings against the former prime minister are matters for the Pakistani courts to decide,” a spokesperson for the US State Department said in an emailed response to Geo News. The PTI founder has been behind bars since August last year after his conviction in the Toshakhana criminal case and subsequent sentencing in other cases ahead of the February 8 elections — allegations he denies.

Members of the United States House of Representatives, from both the Republican and Democratic parties, have repeatedly urged outgoing President Joe Biden to advocate for the immediate release of Pakistan’s former prime minister and all other political prisoners in the country. The US lawmakers have also expressed their disappointment over the “use of mass arrests, arbitrary detention, and the implementation of a de facto firewall against social media platforms, with reports of broader efforts to slow internet access speeds”. In a statement to Geo News, the State Department said [it is considered] that the cases against the incarcerated politician would be in accordance with Pakistan’s constitution and laws.

However, the spokesperson stated, “The US continues to call for the rule of democratic principles, as well as constitutional and human rights in Pakistan.” “Human rights are a significant part of US-Pakistan relations,” it said, adding: “We are in regular communication with Pakistani authorities on human rights and other key issues.” Following Imran’s removal from prime minister office through a vote of no-confidence, the PTI founder had previously alleged that the US was behind his ouster in 2022, citing a purported diplomatic cipher linked with the US diplomat Donald Lu.