UN Human Rights Body Demands Release of Imran Khan, Claims Legal Violation

A United Nations human rights working group has called for the immediate release of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, stating his detention violates international laws. The Geneva-based United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention made this demand after reviewing Khan's case, where he was sentenced last year on corruption charges.

Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 following a three-year prison sentence for hiding assets after selling state gifts. This conviction led to a ban on his participation in politics and contesting the February 8 elections, which his party claims were rigged. The Election Commission of Pakistan, which managed the vote, has denied these allegations.

UN Group's Findings and Demands

The UN working group asserted that Khan's detention in the graft case "had no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him from running for office." They stated that "Khan was detained for exercising his right to freedom of expression or opinion" and was denied a "fair trial and due process rights." The group demanded Khan's immediate release, calling it an "appropriate remedy."

Despite multiple convictions, Khan remains a prominent opposition figure. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), welcomed the UN group's demand. The group further claimed that Khan's conviction was part of a broader campaign targeting PTI and Khan specifically.

Political Repression Allegations

The UN group highlighted that in the lead-up to Pakistan's February 2024 general elections, PTI candidates faced arrests, torture, and intimidation. Rallies were disrupted, and the party was deprived of its iconic cricket bat symbol, forcing candidates to run as independents.

Khan himself is facing over 150 politically motivated criminal cases. Just days before the election, he was convicted in three more cases and sentenced to an additional 10 years, 14 years, and seven years in prison respectively. "For Khan, who is 71 years old, the combined prison term of 34 years amounts to a life sentence," the group said.

Reactions from Khan's Party

Khan's spokesman Zulfi Bukhari welcomed the group's findings and demands for Khan's release. PTI won the most seats in the February 8 vote but did not secure a majority to form a government.

There has been no immediate comment from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government regarding the UN group's demand. Sharif replaced Khan after his ouster through a vote of no-confidence in parliament in 2022.

The UN group's call for Khan's release adds international pressure on Pakistan's government amid ongoing political turmoil. The situation continues to evolve as both domestic and international entities monitor developments closely.