'Imran Khan's persecution a stain on Pakistan's history,' US lawmakers say in latest letter

Two congressmen, Joe Wilson and August Pfluger, have written a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling for the release of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.  

Republican Representative Joe Wilson took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday to share the letter, writing in the caption, “Grateful to join @RepublicanStudy Chairman @RepPfluger to urge @SecRubio to free Imran Khan and work to restore democracy in Pakistan. US-Pakistan relations are strongest when they are based on freedom.”

The letter read, “You (Marco Rubio) recall that Imran Khan was Prime Minister in your first term, and you both shared a strong relationship. He is widely beloved in Pakistan, and his release would usher in a new era of U.S.-Pakistan relations with freedom value at its core”.

Drawing a parallel between Imran Khan and U.S. President Donald J. Trump as victims of “judicial abuse,” the letter stated that Imran Khan was imprisoned on trumped-up charges.  

According to the letter, both congressmen urged Rubio to work with Pakistan to restore democracy, human rights, the rule of law, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly.  

Emphasising that the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, must be treated like any other politician, the letter noted, “He (Imran Khan) does not belong in prison, and his persecution is a stain on Pakistan’s history.”

 
“… Your (US Secretary of State) goal is to have the strongest relations with every country in the world, and the strength of the US Pak relationships hinges on freedoms with Imran Khan.”

Earlier this month, Wilson also wrote a letter to the political and military leaders of Pakistan to Free Imran Khan.

The previous 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.”

 
In a letter, Wilson stressed that Imran Khan's release would be a major step toward strengthening U.S.-Pak relations.

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