ISLAMABAD: Parliamentarians characterise US lawmakers’ appeal for pressure as an intrusion into National Assembly legislators have reportedly condemned letter from 62 US Congress members that asked President Joe Biden to pressure Pakistan into releasing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s founding Chairman Imran Khan.

Around 160 members of Pakistan’s National Assembly sent letter to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, characterising congressional appeal as an intrusion into Pakistan’s internal affairs, according to local media report.

Pakistani lawmakers, including notable figures such as Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Naveed Qamar, Mustafa Kamal, Aasiya Naz Tanoli and Khalid Magsi, expressed deep concerns over perceived interference. They called upon Prime Minister Sharif to formally convey to US Congress that Pakistan is currently grappling with democratic challenges, which have been compounded by what they labelled as disruptive politics.

Letter outlined accusations against Imran Khan, asserting that he promoted political violence and made criminal threats against state institutions. They stated that Imran Khan’s tactics were not new, citing previous incidents in August 2014 and May 2022 when his political moves allegedly ‘paralysed country.’

Letter suggested that disgruntled expatriates in US and UK have played role in Imran Khan’s negative campaign, leading to heightened concerns within both countries about activities of their citizens.

Last week, around 60 Democratic lawmakers from US House of Representatives wrote to President Joe Biden urging him to pressure Pakistan into releasing Imran Khan, jailed founding chairman of PTI.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 01 2024

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