20 British MPs urge UK govt to ask Pakistan to free Imran

LONDON: As many as 20 British parliamentarians from cross-party have called on UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy to call for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder chairman Imran Khan’s release from Adiala jail and engage with the Pakistan government.

The letter has been written by Kim Johnson, MP for Liverpool Riverside, on Imran Khan’s advisor on International Affairs Zulfi Bukhari’s request and signed by members of both the Commons and the Lords, from all parties. 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.

“We are writing with grave concern about the continued detention of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. As you will know, Mr Khan was imprisoned in 2023 in a move which the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found: ‘...had no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him from running for political office. Thus, from the outset, that prosecution was not grounded in law and was reportedly instrumentalised for a political purpose’.”

The letter to David Lammy says: “As a result, Mr Khan’s ongoing detention represents a grave threat to democracy in the country. Indeed, there has been speculation that his fate will likely be decided by a military court, which would represent a worrying and completely illegal escalation. Following a recent review of Mr Khan’s case, Amnesty International have found that there has been ‘a pattern of weaponisation of the legal system to keep Imran Khan under detention and away from all political activity’. They have also observed that in at least three trials, Imran Khan has not been allowed adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence. It has become apparently clear that the number of cases against Mr Khan are now consistent with a pattern of misuse of the justice system in Pakistan to intimidate, harass and target political opposition leaders – while infringing upon the enshrined independence of the judiciary.”

The letter says the constitutional amendments would transfer powers, such as banning political parties or handling cases involving federal and provincial governments, away from the Supreme Court. “This would constitute an assault on the principle of a separation of powers codified in the country’s constitution.” It adds: “Meanwhile, in recent weeks, there has been further anti-democratic clampdowns on Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Party, which has seen the arrest of parliamentarians and high-profile activists. Despite gaining prior permission to hold a rally in Islamabad, it appears that Pakistani authorities unfairly invoked a new Public Order Act to detain PTI supporters. Parliamentarians across this House will agree that the political precedent this is setting is dangerous. As such, Mr Khan must be immediately released from pre-trial detention. As a country, we have a duty to stand up for human rights, democracy and international law everywhere. We therefore urge you to make representations to the Pakistani government to secure Mr Khan’s safe release.”