WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States reacted to the chaos in Pakistan following the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday and called for respect for democratic principles and the rule of law in Pakistan.
The US State Department spokesman said the United States had no position on any political candidate or party. Response to ANI on Imran’s dramatic arrest Khan in Pakistan, the official called for respect for democratic principles.
The US State Department spokesperson said: “We are aware of the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. As we have said before, the United States has no position on one political candidate or party over another. We call for respect for democratic principles and the rule of law in the world.
Earlier in the day, senior diplomats from the United States and the United Kingdom at a joint press briefing called for respect for the “rule of law” in Pakistan.
“We just want to make sure that everything that happens in Pakistan is in accordance with the rule of law, with the constitution,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a joint press conference in Washington.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stressed: “We want to see peaceful democracy in this country. We want to see the rule of law upheld.”
Brad Shermana US Democratic Party lawmaker, took to Twitter and expressed concern over the former prime minister’s arrest
In his tweet, Congressman Sherman underscored America’s commitment to democracy, the rule of law in Pakistan, American support for human rights and free speech around the world. .
He tweeted: “As I have said many times over the past few months regarding Pakistan, America is dedicated to democracy and the rule of law worldwide. We do not support individual politicians, but human rights and freedom of expression.”
To address the issue, Congressman Sherman spoke to Voice of America Urdu and demanded that Imran Khan be broadcast live to assure his followers that he is safe.
He tweeted: “I just spoke to @voaurdu – they will edit the tape and broadcast it. I requested that #ImranKhan be broadcast live so people know he is safe and has access to lawyers and his family.”
Expressing concern over the footage of Khan’s arrest, the lawmaker pointed out that the arrests made appeared inconsistent with “the claim that this is just a corruption case”.
Brad Sherman tweeted: “My adviser @DrMahmood40 tells me that PTI leaders and workers are being arrested in #Pakistan. That would seem inconsistent with the claim that this is just a corruption case. In a democracy, elections are held on time and the winners are allowed to govern.”
Imran Khan was arrested at the High Court in Islamabad by Rangers on a warrant from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The NAB had launched an investigation against Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and others for the alleged gaining of hundreds of earth canals on behalf of Al Qadir University Trust, which allegedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the Treasury .
According to the charges, Imran Khan and other defendants adjusted rupees of between £50 million and £190 million at the time sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government, Geo News reported. The cricketer-turned-politician registered Trust for Al-Qadir University Project on December 26, 2019.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ruled the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan as “lawful”, Geo News reported. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, who had raised questions about the Rangers’ decision to arrest Imran Khan at court on Tuesday, announced the reserved verdict.
The US State Department spokesman said the United States had no position on any political candidate or party. Response to ANI on Imran’s dramatic arrest Khan in Pakistan, the official called for respect for democratic principles.
The US State Department spokesperson said: “We are aware of the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. As we have said before, the United States has no position on one political candidate or party over another. We call for respect for democratic principles and the rule of law in the world.
Earlier in the day, senior diplomats from the United States and the United Kingdom at a joint press briefing called for respect for the “rule of law” in Pakistan.
“We just want to make sure that everything that happens in Pakistan is in accordance with the rule of law, with the constitution,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a joint press conference in Washington.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stressed: “We want to see peaceful democracy in this country. We want to see the rule of law upheld.”
Brad Shermana US Democratic Party lawmaker, took to Twitter and expressed concern over the former prime minister’s arrest
In his tweet, Congressman Sherman underscored America’s commitment to democracy, the rule of law in Pakistan, American support for human rights and free speech around the world. .
He tweeted: “As I have said many times over the past few months regarding Pakistan, America is dedicated to democracy and the rule of law worldwide. We do not support individual politicians, but human rights and freedom of expression.”
To address the issue, Congressman Sherman spoke to Voice of America Urdu and demanded that Imran Khan be broadcast live to assure his followers that he is safe.
He tweeted: “I just spoke to @voaurdu – they will edit the tape and broadcast it. I requested that #ImranKhan be broadcast live so people know he is safe and has access to lawyers and his family.”
Expressing concern over the footage of Khan’s arrest, the lawmaker pointed out that the arrests made appeared inconsistent with “the claim that this is just a corruption case”.
Brad Sherman tweeted: “My adviser @DrMahmood40 tells me that PTI leaders and workers are being arrested in #Pakistan. That would seem inconsistent with the claim that this is just a corruption case. In a democracy, elections are held on time and the winners are allowed to govern.”
Imran Khan was arrested at the High Court in Islamabad by Rangers on a warrant from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The NAB had launched an investigation against Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and others for the alleged gaining of hundreds of earth canals on behalf of Al Qadir University Trust, which allegedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the Treasury .
According to the charges, Imran Khan and other defendants adjusted rupees of between £50 million and £190 million at the time sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government, Geo News reported. The cricketer-turned-politician registered Trust for Al-Qadir University Project on December 26, 2019.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ruled the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan as “lawful”, Geo News reported. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, who had raised questions about the Rangers’ decision to arrest Imran Khan at court on Tuesday, announced the reserved verdict.
