ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday condemned a UN report that called the detention of former prime minister Imran Khan “arbitrary and in violation of international law”, maintaining that the cricketer-turned-politician’s arrest and the case against him are the country’s “internal matter”.
Imran, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, was convicted in the Toshakhana case and has been in jail since August last year. The Election Commission of Pakistan subsequently disqualified him from voting for five years ahead of February’s general elections. He also faces charges in the crypto and Iddat cases.
The Geneva-based UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded in an opinion published Monday that Imran’s detention had no legal basis and appeared to be intended to disqualify him from running for public office. “… from the outset, the charges have reportedly had no legal basis and were used for political purposes,” it said, adding that Imran’s legal woes were part of a “much larger campaign of repression” against him and his party.
The task force’s report also alleged that PTI members had been arrested, tortured and their rallies disrupted ahead of the 2024 general elections, and that “widespread irregularities occurred on election day.”
“The appropriate remedy is for Mr Khan to be immediately released and for him to have an enforceable right to compensation and other redress in accordance with international law,” the UN working group said.
Imran and his party have always maintained that the charges against him are politically motivated and aimed at blocking his return to power.
Courts have suspended Imran’s sentences in several cases in recent months and overturned his conviction for leaking state secrets. But he remains in prison after his conviction in the Iddat case, where a court ruled that Imran’s 2018 marriage violated Islamic law. Khan is also on trial on anti-terrorism charges in connection with last May’s violence.
Responding to the UN report, Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said, “Pakistan is a sovereign state and therefore the constitution and existing laws are enforced by the courts. The PTI founder has all rights under the national constitution, laws and international norms. He remains in jail as a convicted prisoner.”
In a statement, Tarar said the court’s relief measures against the PTI founder in some cases were a “reflection of a transparent and fair trial and judicial system.” “Any demand that goes beyond the constitution, law and international standards will be described as discriminatory, biased and unfair,” he added.
Last Friday, Pakistan’s parliament condemned a US congressional resolution calling for an independent investigation into allegations that the country’s elections were rigged.
Imran, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, was convicted in the Toshakhana case and has been in jail since August last year. The Election Commission of Pakistan subsequently disqualified him from voting for five years ahead of February’s general elections. He also faces charges in the crypto and Iddat cases.
The Geneva-based UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded in an opinion published Monday that Imran’s detention had no legal basis and appeared to be intended to disqualify him from running for public office. “… from the outset, the charges have reportedly had no legal basis and were used for political purposes,” it said, adding that Imran’s legal woes were part of a “much larger campaign of repression” against him and his party.
The task force’s report also alleged that PTI members had been arrested, tortured and their rallies disrupted ahead of the 2024 general elections, and that “widespread irregularities occurred on election day.”
“The appropriate remedy is for Mr Khan to be immediately released and for him to have an enforceable right to compensation and other redress in accordance with international law,” the UN working group said.
Imran and his party have always maintained that the charges against him are politically motivated and aimed at blocking his return to power.
Courts have suspended Imran’s sentences in several cases in recent months and overturned his conviction for leaking state secrets. But he remains in prison after his conviction in the Iddat case, where a court ruled that Imran’s 2018 marriage violated Islamic law. Khan is also on trial on anti-terrorism charges in connection with last May’s violence.
Responding to the UN report, Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said, “Pakistan is a sovereign state and therefore the constitution and existing laws are enforced by the courts. The PTI founder has all rights under the national constitution, laws and international norms. He remains in jail as a convicted prisoner.”
In a statement, Tarar said the court’s relief measures against the PTI founder in some cases were a “reflection of a transparent and fair trial and judicial system.” “Any demand that goes beyond the constitution, law and international standards will be described as discriminatory, biased and unfair,” he added.
Last Friday, Pakistan’s parliament condemned a US congressional resolution calling for an independent investigation into allegations that the country’s elections were rigged.
