The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has stated that former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been illegally imprisoned and should be released immediately. Khan, who was removed from power in April 2022, has been embroiled in over 200 legal cases and has been in jail since August of the same year. The UN group believes that his detention was politically motivated and without legal basis, designed to disqualify him from running for office. Despite having some of his prison sentences suspended or overturned, Khan remains behind bars due to an illegal marriage conviction.
Analysts suggest that Pakistan’s military, which has a history of intervention in politics, may be behind the legal challenges Khan faces. Khan had previously fallen out with military leaders who once supported him and accused them of being involved in an assassination attempt against him. His arrest in May 2023 led to widespread unrest and a crackdown on his party, PTI.
In the subsequent elections, PTI candidates were forced to run as independents, and while PTI secured the most seats, they were unable to gain power due to a coalition of parties supported by the military. The US Congress resolution calling for an investigation into the alleged election rigging was denounced by Pakistan’s parliament, reflecting the ongoing political turmoil in the country.
Khan’s continued detention has raised concerns about the rule of law and democracy in Pakistan, with international human rights organizations calling for his immediate release.
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