'Free Imran Khan': US lawmaker writes letter to president, PM, army chief

United States (US) House of Representatives member Joe Wilson has written a letter to Pakistan’s political and military leaders, urging them to the release of jailed former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

On August 5, 2023, Imran Khan was arrested from his residence at Zaman Park Lahore shortly after his conviction in the Toshakhana case and had been held in Attock jail.

Following the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order, Imran Khan was shifted to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on September 27, 2023. Currently, he is held in jail under high security and with B-class facilities due to his status as a former premier.

Wilson took to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday (today) to announce that he has written a letter to Pakistan. 

The US Congressman shared the letter with the caption: “Grateful to send this letter today to the political and military leaders of Pakistan to Free Imran Khan. I will also be engaging the Trump administration on this issue. US-Pakistan relations are strongest when Pakistan is democratic. Free Imran Khan.”

The letter read, “… I have many disagreements with Mr. Khan, particularly his stance in support of the Chinese Communist Party and War Criminal Putin. However, democracy cannot work if political opponents are unjustly detained on politicised charges rather than defeated in the ballot box.”

“I urge Pakistan to uphold democratic institutions, human rights, and the rule of law, and respect the fundamental guarantees of due process, freedom of press, freedom of assembly and freedom of speech of the people of Pakistan.”

Wilson stressed in a letter that the release of Imran Khan would be a major step towards strengthening U.S.-Pak relations.

The member of the Republican Party emphasised that a strong U.S.-Pak relationship is in the national interest of both countries. He underscored that over 75 years, U.S.-Pak bilateral relations have been strongest since Pakistan embraced its democratic ideals of the rule of law.

Wilson, following the meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, took to X on January 23 to  post: "Free Imran Khan." 

The tweet quickly gained momentum, with Imran Khan’s supporters praising the congressman’s stance, while government officials and critics had questioned the appropriateness of such remarks.

He was followed by another Republican Congressman, Jack Bergman, who also called for the release of Khan. “The facts are straightforward; it’s no time to mince words. Free Imran Khan,” Bergman wrote on X on his official account on January 23.