The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has welcomed the remarks of Richard Grenell, US President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee as envoy for special missions — who advocated for the release of PTI founder Imran Khan.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has urged the United States to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Grenell garnered attention in Pakistan when he made a demand for the release of Imran.
“Release Imran Khan,” he tweeted on November 26.
Earlier, Grenell talking to a US media outlet said that the US had a much better ties with Pakistan during the Trump government when Imran Khan was the prime minister of Pakistan.
He added that he [Imran Khan] was a former cricketer, he wasn’t a politician and he spoke in very common sense language. Grenell said Imran and Donald Trump had a very good relationship.
He while reiterating his demand to release Imran, said there are a lot of the same allegations just like President Trump as the ruling party put him in jail.
Grenell has assumed several key roles during Trump’s first administration, including US ambassador to Germany, Special Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations, and Acting Director of National Intelligence.
Meanwhile, PTI leaders, including Aliya Hamza and Zartaj Gul have welcomed Grenell’s remarks. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said if someone advocates for human rights “he will be welcomed”.
Speaking to local TV, PML-N Senator Talal Chaudhry responded to the remarks of Trump’s ally and said the government’s position is “very clear that this is our internal matter”.
He added that “the US must respect our sovereignty.
