ISLAMABAD: Joe Wilson, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, has written to Pakistan’s civil and military leadership, demanding the release of former prime minister Imran Khan.
The cricket star-turned-politician has been incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail since August 2023 and has faced charges in over 100 cases – all of which his party claims as politically motivated.
In a letter shared on social media site X, Congressman Joe Wilson demanded from the Pakistani leadership to free Imran Khan and announced to engage the Trump administration on this issue.
Taking about the US-Pakistan relations, the letter wrote “A strong U.S.-Pakistan relationship is in the national interest of both of our countries.”
“In the over 75 years of bilateral relations between the U.S. and Pakistan, our relationship has been strongest when Pakistan embraces its democratic ideals of rule of law,” Wilson stated, who last month shared a pro-Imran Khan tweet after meeting Interior Minster Mohsin Naqvi.
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 pic.twitter.com/szQ8QCowkz
— Joe Wilson (@RepJoeWilson) February 6, 2025
Addressing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and COAS Gen Asim Munir, the Republican representative highlighted the “unjust detention of the former premier Khan.”
In a letter, Wilson alleged many disagreements with Khan, particularly his “stances in support of the Chinese Communist Party, and War Criminal Putin.”
However, he said, “Democracy cannot work if political opponents are unjustly detained” on politicized charges rather than defeated in the ballot box.
The US politicians demanded the release of Imran Khan, adding that such a step would be a breakthrough towards strengthening U.S.-Pakistan relations.
He urged the Pakistani leadership to “uphold democratic institutions, human rights, and the rule of law”, and respect the fundamental guarantees of due process, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of speech of the people of Pakistan.
Last month, the legal troubles for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder increased after he was handed over 14 years of imprisonment in a £190 million graft case, in which he and his wife were accused of receiving billions of rupees and land to build Al-Qadir Trust Univeristy in return for releasing £190 million to a property tycoon in 2020.
