British MPs call for immediate release of Imran Khan and other 'political prisoners'

British officials and MPs gathered at an event for the immediate release and fair travel of PTI founder Imran Khan at Portcullis House on January 16, 2025. Reporter

LONDON: A large group of British parliamentarians have called for the immediate release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and other political prisoners accused of several charges, including the May 9 and November 26 violence and the chaos caused in the country during an event at Portcullis House on Thursday.

The event was organized by the new group Friends of Democratic Pakistan-UK (FODP), established by Safina Faisal, who said she had taken the initiative to highlight issues including “the killing of protesters peaceful attacks, enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests targeting political workers, women and journalists. Military trials of civilians and the erosion of democracy require urgent attention.”

The event was chaired by MP James Frith (Labour) and addressed by former cabinet minister Khan Zulfi Bukhari, former accountability chief Shehzad Akbar, Lord Daniel Hannan and some activists who alleged violations of their rights for defending Pakistan Tehreek-e. -Insaf (PTI).

Event organizer Safina Faisal (centre), MP James Frith (right) and lawyer Michael Pollack attending the event at Portcullis House on January 16, 2025. Journalist

MPs who attended the event included Andrew Pakes (Labour), Naz Shah (Labour), Jeremy Corbyn (Independent), Paul Waugh (Labour), James Asser (Labour), Kate Deardon (Labour), Jas Athwal (Labour ), Gurinder. Josan (Labour), Margaret Mullaine (Labour), Warinder Juss (Labour), Adnan Hussain (Independent), Preet Kaur (Labour), Ayoub Khan (Independent) and Iqbal Mohamed (Independent).

Azhar Mashwani and Khan's nephew Sher Shah also attended the event; however, they did not address the assembly.

Friends of Democratic Pakistan Faisal has called for establishment officials from different institutions to be held accountable for their alleged violations of international law.

The former advisor and minister of PTI founder Bukhari claimed that hundreds of people died during a PTI protest in Islamabad in November.

He said a United Nations task force report categorically stated that Khan's detention was illegal and that he faced inhumane prison conditions.

“Since April 2022, torture has been used as a weapon to break our party. Hundreds of our workers, legislators and leaders are in prison and have been tortured,” he said.

“Azam Swati and Shehbaz Gill are two examples. They were tortured in broad daylight because they were close to Khan and stood by him. Intimate videos were used against our politicians to blackmail and break them” , added Bukhari.

Bukhari said Khan mostly stayed in solitary confinement and rarely had the opportunity to meet his lawyers and family. His wife was put in prison. She may not have received poison, but inadequate food, which caused her enormous health problems. Things were so difficult for her at home that she went to court asking to be jailed with Imran Khan. Her house was completely sealed off to torture her.”

Akbar said in his speech that Pakistan's democracy has “always been compromised.”

“Transnational repression should concern British MPs because it concerns British citizens. I am a victim of this repression. After moving to the UK, my brother was kidnapped and released only after the intervention of my British MP. “Many overseas Pakistanis have had their family members kidnapped,” he said.

“It is about the erosion and eradication of an entire democratic system. Manipulations were made before and after to steal the mandate of the people. The aim was to bring new amendments to change the nature and the structure of the judiciary. Judges were kidnapped and blackmailed,” he said.

“All of this was done to get the system to surrender to decision-makers. Military tribunals were not possible without the 26th Amendment and what is happening now is for everyone to see. The power is in the hands of the executive branch , and free the judicial system is finished in today's Pakistan,” concluded the former minister.

Lord Hannan said Khan's PTI had won the 2023 elections overwhelmingly, but all efforts had been made to prevent the party from forming a government at the

“Pakistanis are effectively living under martial law. The killings in Islamabad were on a different scale. You cannot be indifferent to the agony of democracy in a friendly country. We must raise our voices because 1.5 million of Pakistanis are directly affected by what is happening in Pakistan,” Hannan said.

He said sanctions do not work against states, but can work if they are targeted and against specific and named individuals involved in human rights violations.

At the end of the session, the forum called for the “restoration of judicial independence” and the release of all political prisoners, targeted sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations, an investigation independent international body on the repression of peaceful protests and the repression of the Pakistani government. play a role, investigate and raise concerns about transnational repression, bring about the immediate release of the Commonwealth Election Observation Report and ensure transparency and fair trials.

This hearing follows a similar session held last summer, during which British parliamentarians discussed the detention of former Prime Minister Khan, whose arrest sparked widespread protests.

A heated argument broke out outside the venue between a group of journalists and the event organizers.

Journalists who protested were not allowed into the event and were informed that their names were not approved for media coverage.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos