Detention of Imran Khan is Pakistan’s internal matter, says US

WASHINGTON: The United States of America (US) has termed the imprisonment of former prime minister Imran Khas “an internal matter of Pakistan”, hours after a United Nations working group said that the PTI founder’s detention is illegal.

Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State Vedant Patel said that he would let the UN detail their assessment. “I’ll let the United Nations offer any clarity on the comments that they’ve provided,” he said, adding “And in the case of Mr. Imran Khan, you’ve heard us say this before: This is an internal matter for Pakistan. I don’t have any assessment to offer from up here.”

Asked about the US House resolution regarding Pakistan’s elections during Monday’s routine news briefing, Patel said that he would not speak about pending congressional legislation. However, he added that US had consistently and privately urged Pakistan to respect the rights of its people.

“Let me just say broadly that when it comes to Pakistan, our most senior officials, whether that be Secretary Blinken, Assistant Secretary Lu, Ambassador Blome, we have consistently and privately and publicly urged Pakistan to respect the rights of its people in line with its Constitution and international commitments,” he said and added “We urge the Government of Pakistan to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression, freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and the freedom of religion as well.”

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Responding to a question, Vedant Patel said that they hope that any country on the planet condemns terrorism anywhere while responding to a question about where the US relations stand amid a triangle between the US and India, India and Pakistan and India-US relations. “We would hope that any country on the face of the planet condemns terrorism anywhere,” he said.

Vedant Patel reiterated the US’ stand on terrorism and emphasised on building positive relations with neighbours.

The US official noted that the nation welcomes all countries striving to build positive relations with their neighbours. He added, “But ultimately this is between India and Pakistan broadly, of course, we welcome any countries making more positive relations with their neighbours. But as it relates to this specifically, I just don’t have anything to offer.”

A panel of UN experts has determined that the detention of Imran Khan was arbitrary and a violation of international law, calling for him to be released “immediately”.

In an opinion published Monday, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention raised concerns about multiple cases brought against Khan since he was ousted in April 2022.

It found that his depravation of liberty was “arbitrary” and violated several international laws and norms.

Imran Khan’s “detention had no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him from running for political office”, the working group said. “Thus, from the outset, that prosecution was not grounded in law and was reportedly instrumentalised for a political purpose,” it said in the opinion, which was dated March 25 and made public Monday.