A US bipartisan bill introduced on Monday urged the release of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan labeling him a “political prisoner,” and proposed sanctions on the Army chief, General Asim Munir, over alleged “persecution of political opponents.”
According to The Hill, Representatives Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) introduced the “Pakistan Democracy Act,” which advocates for targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
“Khan is clearly a political prisoner,” Rep. Wilson told The Hill. He has also urged President Donald Trump, through a letter, to “put pressure on Pakistan’s military leadership including through visa bans, to restore democracy and release Khan.”
Khan, ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote, was arrested in August 2023 on corruption charges.
His supporters claim the charges are politically motivated and backed by the military to block his return to power. Lawmakers from both major US parties have consistently called for his release.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party members anticipate the Trump administration’s intervention for his release. While Trump remains silent on Khan’s situation, his “envoy for special missions,” Richard Grenell, has expressed support on social media.
However, following his removal, Khan consistently blamed Washington for collaborating with Pakistan’s opposition to remove him, citing his independent foreign policy and resistance to American influence.
His public gatherings featured anti-American rhetoric, presenting his removal as an assault on Pakistani sovereignty. The Biden administration has rejected these allegations.
Wilson acknowledged disagreeing with Khan’s perspectives but added that such disputes require democratic resolution, stating, “But political differences should be dealt with at the ballot box,” he added.
What does the bill mandates?
The bill requires the US government to identify those involved in political persecution in Pakistan within 180 days and impose penalties, including visa bans and entry restrictions.
It specifically accuses General Asim Munir of “knowingly engaging in the wrongful persecution and imprisonment of political opponents” and calls for similar action against others.
The bill allows for the removal of sanctions if Pakistan ends military rule, restores civilian democracy, and frees all detained political leaders.