UN Experts Say Pakistan’s Ex-Leader Imran Khan Should Be Freed

A team of experts from the United Nations (UN) said on Monday that Imran Khan, who used to be the leader of Pakistan, should be let out of jail right away. They think he’s being kept in jail unfairly and that it goes against international rules.

These experts work for a special UN group in Geneva. They look into cases where people might be unfairly locked up. They said the Pakistani government doesn’t have a good reason to keep Khan in jail.

The group also said that putting Khan in jail breaks at least twelve important rules about human rights. They want Pakistan to fix this problem quickly and treat Khan fairly.

Why is Imran Khan in Jail?

Imran Khan, who is 71 years old, was put in jail in August 2023. He was found guilty of doing something wrong with gifts he got when he was Pakistan’s leader. The court said he didn’t tell the truth about these gifts and gave him three years in jail.

But Khan and other experts say the trial wasn’t fair. They think it was done to stop Khan from being a leader in Pakistan again.

What the UN Experts Found

The UN experts looked closely at Khan’s case. They think the reasons for putting Khan in jail weren’t based on good laws. They believe Khan was put in jail to stop him from running in elections.

The experts tried to ask the Pakistani government about why Khan was in jail, but they didn’t get an answer. This made them worried that Khan’s rights weren’t being respected.

Khan’s Party is Happy About the UN Opinion

The political party that Khan leads, called PTI, is very happy about what the UN experts said. They want Khan to be let out of jail right away.

A person who speaks for Khan’s party said this is the first time big international groups are saying that keeping Khan in jail is wrong. They think this will help people understand that Khan is being treated unfairly.

Problems for Khan’s Party in Recent Elections

In February 2024, Pakistan had big elections. Khan’s party had a lot of trouble during this time. Many people in his party were arrested or scared into leaving. They couldn’t campaign properly, and the government made it hard for them to take part in the election.

Even with all these problems, people who support Khan’s ideas still won many seats in the election. But it wasn’t enough to form a new government.

What Happens Next?

The UN experts’ opinion is important, but it doesn’t force Pakistan to do anything. However, it might make other countries pay attention to what’s happening with Imran Khan.

The United States has also said there should be a careful look into how the Pakistan election was run. Pakistan didn’t like this idea and said other countries shouldn’t tell them what to do.

For now, Imran Khan is still in jail, and it’s not clear what will happen next. But this news from the UN experts might make more people talk about his case.