Washington: U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson has announced that he is finalizing the drafting of the Pakistan Democracy Act, a bill aimed at restoring democracy in Pakistan and imposing sanctions on the country’s military leadership.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Wilson stated that the bill would make U.S. policy to ensure democracy is reinstated in Pakistan. It also mandates a 30-day review for potential sanctions on Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, as well as a review of all Pakistani generals, government officials, and their families for possible sanctions, however he did not provide further details on the proposed legislation.
This development follows calls from former U.S. diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad for the release of Imran Khan, the jailed former prime minister of Pakistan and an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump.
In November last year, Khalilzad questioned how General Asim Munir would justify Khan’s imprisonment following Trump’s electoral victory. In a post on X, he wrote:
"With Trump’s victory in the USA election, how would General Asim Munir explain the ongoing unjustified imprisonment of his friend Imran Khan? It is time to release Imran Khan and others who are being held without a fair judicial process."
While Khalilzad did not elaborate on the relationship between Trump and Imran Khan, a Foreign Policy report noted that Trump had met Khan multiple times during his presidency and referred to him as a "good friend."
In addition to the bill, Republican Congressmen Joe Wilson and Pat Fallon have written a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the administration to engage with Pakistan’s "military regime" to secure Imran Khan’s release.
So far, the Biden administration has not commented on Pakistan’s political situation or the imprisonment of Imran Khan.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the U.S. lawmakers’ allegations.
Amid growing international scrutiny, opposition leaders in Pakistan have escalated their demands for new general elections and the release of all political prisoners.
On February 27, the Pakistan Constitutional Protection Movement, an opposition alliance, accused Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of suppressing political rivals and violating human rights. The group held a two-day conference in Islamabad, attended by leaders from Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, journalists, and civil society representatives.
In a joint statement, the alliance declared:
"The fraudulent February 2024 elections are directly responsible for the country’s ongoing political, economic, and social crisis."
The statement further claimed that the Pakistani Parliament lacks moral, political, and legal legitimacy, as the elections were rigged. The alliance insists that free, fair, and transparent elections are the only solution to the country’s crisis.
The Sharif-led government, which is widely believed to be backed by Pakistan’s powerful military, has dismissed these allegations, arguing that opposition forces are trying to destabilize the country.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was removed from office in April 2022, has been imprisoned since August 2023 on over 200 charges. His supporters claim that his detention is politically motivated and aimed at preventing his return to power.
Khan has denied all charges, asserting that they are part of a political vendetta to sideline him from the country’s political landscape.
