The United States said on Monday that the Pakistani military court sentenced 25 civilians lacked transparency and judicial independence due process guarantees.
The statement said, “The United States is deeply concerned that Pakistani civilians have been sentenced by a military tribunal for their involvement in protests on May 9, 2023."
"These military courts lack judicial independence, transparency, due process guarantees like the guarantees of civilian courts,” said the statement from spokesperson, Mathew Miller.
“The United States continues to call on Pakistani authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and due process, as enshrined in Pakistan’s constitution,” he added.
However, reacting to the statement, Trump’s close aide described it as too little and too weak.
“You are late. And this is too little and too weak. Speak normally. Free Imran Khan,” said Richard Grenell, who served as acting director of national intelligence under President Trump in 2020 and was the US ambassador to Germany from 2018 to 2020.
Similarly, Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna also joined Grenell in seeking freedom for Imran Khan.
“I agree with Richard Grenell. It’s time to free Imran Khan and allow the people of Pakistan to hold new democratic elections,” Khanna said.
“Free Imran Khan. This is bipartisan. We need to not recognise the rigged election in Pakistan and the new government. We need a new election in Pakistan, and Imran Khan needs to be out of jail,” Khanna said in a video posted on a social media platform.
Former Trump envoy to Afghanistan, who assisted in US-Taliban talks in 2020, Zalmay Khalilzad, said it is time to put more pressure on Pakistan, especially the military, to facilitate reaching a balanced political agreement with PTI and the release of Imran Khan.
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