LONDON: Approximately 20 British parliamentarians from different political parties have urged the country’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, to advocate for the release of Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and to engage with the Pakistani government on this matter.
The request came from Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson, who wrote the letter at the behest of Khan’s adviser on International Affairs, Zulfi Bukhari. The letter received signatures from members of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, representing all political parties.
Among the signatories are Kim Johnson MP, Paula Barker MP, Apsana Begum MP, Liam Byrne MP, Rosie Duffield MP, Gill Furniss MP, Paulette Hamilton MP, Peter Lamb MP, Andy McDonald MP, Abtisam Mohamed MP, Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, Zarah Sultana MP, Steve Witherden MP, Nadia Whittome MP, Baroness Joan Bakewell, Baroness Christine Blower, Lord Peter Hain, Lord John Hendy, and Lord Todoanfel.
The letter expresses deep concern regarding the ongoing detention of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. It notes that Mr. Khan was imprisoned in 2023 in a manner deemed by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to lack legal foundation and appears to have been aimed at disqualifying him from political candidacy. Consequently, the prosecution was not based on legal grounds and was reportedly utilized for political ends.
The correspondence to Lammy states: “As a result, Mr. Khan’s continued detention poses a serious threat to democracy in the country. There is speculation that his fate may be determined by a military court, which would signify a troubling and entirely unlawful escalation. Following a recent evaluation of Mr. Khan’s situation, Amnesty International has identified a ‘pattern of weaponization of the legal system’ to keep him detained and away from political engagement.”
The letter further points out that in at least three trials, Khan has been denied sufficient time and resources to prepare his defense. It has become increasingly evident that the multitude of cases against the imprisoned PTI founder aligns with a pattern of misusing the justice system in Pakistan to intimidate, harass, and target political opposition leaders, thereby undermining the independence of the judiciary.
Additionally, the letter highlights that the recently enacted 26th Constitutional Amendment would strip the Supreme Court of powers such as banning political parties or handling cases involving federal and provincial governments. “This would represent an infringement on the principle of separation of powers enshrined in the nation’s Constitution.”
Moreover, it notes: “In recent weeks, there have been further anti-democratic actions against Mr. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Party, leading to the arrest of parliamentarians and prominent activists. Despite having secured prior approval to hold a rally in Islamabad, it seems that Pakistani authorities have unjustly invoked a new Public Order Act to detain PTI supporters.
“Members of Parliament across this House will concur that the political precedent being set is perilous. Therefore, Mr. Khan must be released from pre-trial detention without delay. As a nation, we have a responsibility to uphold human rights, democracy, and international law universally. We thus implore you to engage with the Pakistani government to ensure Mr. Khan’s safe release.”
