LONDON: Nearly two dozen UK members of parliament have demanded the immediate release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail along with his wife, Bushra Begum.
This call was made during a hearing on the “illegal incarceration” of Khan, held in the House of Lords’ Committee Room. The event, focused on the erosion of democratic norms in Pakistan, was organized by Labour MP Naz Shah and Conservative Peer Lord Hannan of Kingsclere.
Guest speakers included Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, Imran Khan’s International Affairs Adviser, PTI candidate Meher Bano Qureshi, and Sarwar Bari, founder of Pattan Development.
Over 22 parliamentarians attended, including notable figures like Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, Priti Patel MP, Baroness Neville-Jones, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, and Baroness Warsi. Newly elected independent MPs Shockat Adam, Barrister Ayoub Khan, Iqbal Mohammad, and Labour’s Naushabah Khan were also present.
PTI UK’s leader Jahanzeb Khan and four other office bearers also attended.
The hearing concluded with a resolution urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy to consider the recent UN report on Khan’s incarceration and to demand his immediate release and the restoration of democracy in Pakistan.
Bukhari provided a summary of events since Khan’s removal in April 2022, alleging massive election rigging and fears of Khan being tried in military courts. He highlighted ongoing atrocities against freedom and democracy in Pakistan and welcomed UK parliamentarians’ support for democratic norms.
Meher Bano spoke about the challenges faced by PTI candidates in the elections, criticizing the silence of Western democracies and stressing the desire for freedom and fair elections in Pakistan. She mentioned her father, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, being targeted for supporting Khan.
Lord Hannan emphasized the importance of implementing UN recommendations, including ending Khan’s detention and setting a timetable for free and inclusive elections.
Naz Shah clarified that the hearing was pro-Pakistan and aimed at supporting democracy, media freedom, and justice. She highlighted the significance of the UN report on Khan’s incarceration and reiterated her commitment to speaking up for Pakistan.