Over 20 British parliamentarians from various parties have urged UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to call for the release of Imran Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), from Adiala Jail and to engage with the Pakistani government regarding his situation.
The letter, initiated by Kim Johnson, MP for Liverpool Riverside, followed a request from Zulfi Bukhari, an advisor to Khan. It was signed by members from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, including notable figures such as Paula Barker, Apsana Begum, and Baroness Joan Bakewell.
The letter expresses serious concern over Khan’s ongoing detention, which the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has deemed baseless and politically motivated. The MPs argue that Khan’s imprisonment poses a significant threat to democracy in Pakistan and raises fears that his case might be decided by a military court, a move they view as illegal.
Amnesty International has highlighted a disturbing trend of using the legal system to keep Khan in detention and to stifle political opposition. The letter points out that he has faced multiple trials without adequate legal support and notes that recent constitutional amendments threaten to undermine the separation of powers in Pakistan.
Additionally, the letter references recent government crackdowns on Khan’s PTI party, including the detention of its supporters, which the MPs deem alarmingly undemocratic. They emphasize the urgent need for Khan’s release while calling on the UK to uphold human rights and democracy globally.
