ISLAMABAD, October 31, 2024: In a tit-for-tat response, more than 100 Pakistani lawmakers have addressed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressing their concerns over a letter from US Congress members urging President Biden to facilitate the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan.
The Pakistani letter, signed by 160 parliamentarians from various political parties, criticized the US lawmakers’ comments, stating they reflect a “skewed view of realities.” The lawmakers argued that the US appeal amounts to “external interference” that unfairly amplifies the narrative of one political party at the expense of Pakistan’s institutions and other political groups.
This reaction follows a letter from US lawmakers who called for Biden to exert “substantial leverage” on the Pakistani government to secure the release of political prisoners, including Khan.
They also requested US embassy officials to visit Khan, who has been incarcerated in Adiala jail for over a year.
Read More: U.S. State Department Acknowledges Congressional Appeal for Imran Khan’s Release
This incident is not the first clash between legislators in Islamabad and Washington. In June, the US House of Representatives passed “House Resolution 901,” which urged an impartial investigation into alleged irregularities in Pakistan’s February elections.
Pakistani lawmakers responded promptly, condemning the resolution as “contrary to facts” and an interference in their internal affairs.
Following the latest correspondence, the Foreign Office described the US legislators’ stance as “contrary to inter-state conduct and diplomatic norms.” In response, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that Khan’s imprisonment is a matter for the Pakistani courts to decide.
