The US State Department has clarified that the decision concerning legal action against former prime minister Imran Khan was to be made by Pakistani courts.
The development came in response to the demand from the US lawmakers and former envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad for the release of Imran Khan.
A spokesperson for the State Department said in an emailed response to Pakistan-based news channel that they do not comment on Congressional correspondence as legal proceedings against the former prime minister are matters for the Pakistani courts to decide.
Imran Khan has been in jail since August last year after his conviction in the Toshakhana case and subsequent sentencing in other cases ahead of the February 8 elections.
Members of the US House of Representatives, from both the Republican and Democratic parties, have frequently urged President Biden to advocate for the immediate release of Imran Khan and all other political prisoners in the country.
They have also expressed their disappointment over the use of arrests, arbitrary detention, and the implementation of a de facto firewall against social media platforms.
The Statement Department, in the statement, said it is considered that the cases against the jailed politician would be in accordance with Pakistan’s constitution and laws.
