The UN Human Rights Working Group has called for the immediate release of Imran Khan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan and founder of the Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice, PTI) party. The group condemned Khan's imprisonment as arbitrary and a violation of international law, insisting he be released and compensated for his detention.
"The imprisonment of a politician is arbitrary and violates international law. Imran Khan should be released immediately and given rights to compensation for his detention," the UN Working Group stated.
Human rights activists emphasized that Khan, along with his party, has been the target of a "widespread campaign of repression." They allege that the February elections to Pakistan's lower house of parliament were marred by "widespread fraud that stole dozens of parliamentary seats from the PTI."
The Pakistani authorities have not yet responded to the UN Working Group's statement.
Imran Khan is currently serving prison sentences for two convictions handed down by courts in early 2024. In January, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of violating the state secrets law. In February, both Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were sentenced to seven years in prison for entering into an illegal marriage.
Khan served as Pakistan's Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022. He was removed from office on April 10, 2022, following a vote of no confidence. The investigation against Khan began after he publicly claimed on March 27, 2022, to have received an encrypted telegram from Pakistan's ambassador to Washington, D.C. According to Khan, this telegram indicated that US representatives had recommended his removal from power due to his pro-Russian stance on Ukraine, demonstrated during his visit to Moscow in February 2022.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS