Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s detention is arbitrary and in violation of international law, a UN human rights working group said in an opinion issued on Monday, adding the jailed politician should be released immediately.
The Geneva-based UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said that the “appropriate remedy would be to release Mr Khan immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law.”
The UN body had adopted its opinion on the PTI founder’s detention in its 99th session from March 18-27, according to the document dated June 18.
The UN working group said Khan’s legal woes were part of a “much larger campaign of repression” against him and his PTI party. It said that in the lead up to the 2024 elections, members of Khan’s party were arrested and tortured and their rallies were disrupted.
It also alleged “widespread fraud on election day, stealing dozens of parliamentary seats.”
The Pakistani embassy in Washington had no immediate comment.
Pakistan’s election commission denies that the elections were rigged. Khan has been in jail since last August and was convicted in some cases ahead of a national election in February. He is also fighting dozens of other cases which are continuing. Khan and his party say the charges were politically motivated to thwart his return to power.
In recent months, Pakistani courts have suspended Khan’s jail sentences in two cases about the illegal acquisition and sale of state gifts, and also overturned his conviction on charges of leaking state secrets.
However, he has remained in prison due to a conviction in another case in which a trial court ruled that his 2018 marriage was unlawful.
