UK MPs Demand Immediate Release of Imran Khan
Nearly two dozen UK Members of Parliament have called for the immediate release of Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail along with his wife, Bushra Begum. The demand was made during a hearing in the House of Lords Committee Room, focusing on the erosion of democratic norms in Pakistan and the “illegal incarceration” of Khan.
The hearing was jointly convened by Naz Shah, Labour MP for Bradford West, and Conservative Peer Lord Hannan of Kingsclere. It featured guest speakers Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, newly appointed Imran Khan’s International Affairs Adviser, Meher Bano Qureshi, PTI candidate in the 2024 Pakistani general election, and Sarwar Bari, founder of Pattan Development.
Attendees and Notable Figures
The session was attended by over 22 parliamentarians from major parties, including:
- Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, former Leader of the Conservative Party and Cabinet Minister
- Priti Patel MP, former Home Secretary
- Baroness Neville-Jones, former Security Minister
- Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, former Minister of State in the Foreign Office
- Baroness Warsi, former Conservative Party Chairwoman and Foreign Office Minister
- Newly elected independent MPs Shockat Adam, Barrister Ayoub Khan, Iqbal Mohammad, and Labour’s Naushabah Khan
Additionally, PTI UK’s leader Jahanzeb Khan and four other office bearers were present.
The hearing resolved that UK parliamentarians will urge Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer MP and the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs David Lammy MP to take note of the recent United Nations report on Imran Khan’s incarceration. They demand his immediate release and the restoration of democracy in Pakistan.
Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari emphasized the international community’s role in advocating for democratic integrity in Pakistan. Meher Bano Qureshi highlighted the broader implications of Khan’s imprisonment on democratic processes and governance in the country.
Imran Khan’s imprisonment has sparked significant international concern, with allegations of political motivations behind his detention. The UN report, referenced during the hearing, underscores the necessity for transparent legal processes and the protection of democratic norms in Pakistan.
The call for Khan’s release by UK MPs adds to the growing international pressure on the Pakistani government to address these concerns. The involvement of prominent UK politicians and the unified stance across party lines signify the seriousness of the issue.
The House of Lords hearing has amplified the call for Imran Khan’s release and the return of democratic governance in Pakistan. As international scrutiny intensifies, the UK government is being urged to take a proactive stance in supporting democratic principles and human rights in Pakistan.
