On Tuesday, after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan sparked rioting across Pakistan, the top ambassadors of the United States (US) and Britain (UK) appealed for respect for the “rule of law” in the country.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a press conference in Washington, “We just want to make sure that whatever happens in Pakistan is consistent with the rule of law, with the constitution.”
The United Kingdom has had “a longstanding and close relationship” with Pakistan, another member of the Commonwealth, as emphasized by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who was speaking alongside Blinken. We support peaceful democracy there. Cleverly stated, “We want the rule of law to be respected.
Both individuals were unwilling to elaborate, with Cleverly explaining that he had not been given all the facts.
The UN has stated that it is keeping an eye on the political situation there.
When asked about the situation in Pakistan, US White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded, “As we have said before, the US does not have a position on one political candidate or party versus another.”
Equal consideration by UN and US
According to reports, the United Nations pledged to keep an eye on the political situation in Pakistan after the detention of Imran Khan to ensure that all political players there were treated equally.
When asked about Imran Khan’s arrest, UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said, “Our concern is making sure that all of the political figures in Pakistan are treated fairly and, of course, that the due process is followed.”
“So, we will follow this process as it goes on to make sure that our concerns are being addressed,” Mr. Haq said during a Tuesday afternoon news briefing at the UN headquarters in New York.
Amnesty International, a human rights organization based in London, released a statement that was disseminated in Washington. Amnesty International has issued a statement expressing concern that human rights may be violated in the ongoing skirmishes between Imran Khan’s supporters and security authorities following the former prime minister’s incarceration.
A request for caution was made, with the stipulation that “any response is in line with the principles of proportionality, legality, necessity, and nondiscrimination.”
South Asia expert Michael Kugelman of Washington, DC tweeted that the situation in Pakistan was deteriorating.
It would appear that the Pakistani military has finally said, “Enough is enough” in regards to Khan today. The police had made multiple unsuccessful attempts at an arrest before the military stepped in, he wrote. To which one responds, “What a mess!”
Twitter user and frequent observer of Pakistani politics Jeremy McLellan said, “Imran Khan wasn’t arrested, he was illegally kidnapped… because he got too popular.”
“The Pakistani people will not take this lying down,” he said.
Scholar of South Asian affairs at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, Madiha Afzal noted, “as things unravel in Pakistan, PM Shehbaz Sharif has lingered on in London for one more day “on [his brother] Nawaz’s instructions.”
Former US ambassador and peace talks with the Taliban negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad has also weighed in on the issue since Iran Khan’s detention.
Deplorable as it is, the arrest of Imran Khan will have far-reaching effects. I strongly disagree with what has been said,” he tweeted. With a few notable exceptions, “it is painful to watch a country so rich in potential, with an ancient heritage of culture, natural resources, an entrepreneurial spirit, and hard-working people, be repeatedly thrown into chaos by its own dysfunctional elites.”
He also called on Pakistan’s friends and allies to intervene. These include China, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. To prevent “the imminent meltdown,” he added, “countries with strong ties to Pakistan must help its leaders reach an agreement.”
To read our article about “IK supporters marching towards capital to protest detention” click here.
