Karachi: US Republican Congressman Joe Wilson has urged President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir to release former Prime Minister Imran Khan, stating that his freedom would strengthen US-Pakistan relations.
Joe Wilson, who represents South Carolina’s 2nd congressional district and serves as an assistant majority whip, made this appeal in a letter, which he publicly shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on February 7.
He wrote, “Grateful to send this letter today to the political and military leaders of Pakistan to Free Imran Khan.”
In his letter, Wilson emphasized that strong US-Pakistan relations are in the national interest of both countries and that historically, their ties have been strongest when Pakistan upholds democratic values and the rule of law.
While acknowledging his disagreements with Imran Khan’s stance on China and Russia, Wilson asserted that democracy cannot function if political opponents are imprisoned on politically motivated charges instead of being defeated at the ballot box.
He urged Pakistani authorities to respect democratic institutions, human rights, and the rule of law, concluding that “such a step would be a major move toward strengthening US-Pakistan relations.”
Just hours after releasing the letter, Wilson reiterated his stance in a speech on the US House floor, once again calling for Imran Khan’s release.
During his speech, he accused Pakistan’s military of undermining democracy and drew parallels with former US President Donald Trump’s legal battles, stating, “Pakistan should release Imran Khan, restoring democracy.”
His speech was accompanied by a visual display featuring images of leaders from North Korea, Iran, Russia, and China, reinforcing his concerns about global authoritarianism.
This is not the first time Wilson has advocated for Khan’s release. On January 23, he had also posted “Free Imran Khan” on X, garnering widespread support from PTI followers. However, critics have pointed out that US-Pakistan relations have historically been strongest during military regimes rather than democratic governments.
