Detention of Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan violates international law, UN working group says

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been arbitrarily detained, according to a United Nations human rights working group. The Geneva-based UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention stated that Khan’s imprisonment violates international law, and they demanded his immediate release. The group also highlighted that Khan’s legal troubles are part of a broader campaign of repression against him and his Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf (PTI) party. In the lead-up to the 2024 general elections, members of Khan’s party were arrested, tortured, and faced disruptions during rallies. Additionally, allegations of widespread fraud on election day were made, affecting parliamentary seats. The Pakistani government has not yet commented on this opinion.

Since his removal as prime minister in April 2022, Khan has been entangled in over 200 legal cases and has been imprisoned since August last year. He considers these cases politically motivated and orchestrated by his opponents to prevent him from returning to power. Despite some sentences being overturned, Khan remains in Adiala jail, south of the capital Islamabad, due to an illegal marriage conviction.

The U.N. working group asserted that Khan’s legal challenges are part of a “much larger campaign of repression” targeting him and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. It highlighted that, leading up to the 2024 elections, PTI members were arrested, tortured, and their rallies were disrupted. The group also accused authorities of “widespread fraud on election day, stealing dozens of parliamentary seats.”