UN group demands release of former Pakistani PM Imran Khan; detention violates international law

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A United Nations human rights working group on Monday called for the immediate release of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying he was arbitrarily detained in violation of international law.

The Geneva-based UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention made the request after reviewing Khan's case, in which he was convicted last year of corruption.

Khan has been facing multiple prison sentences since 2022, when he was ousted by a no-confidence vote in parliament. The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who replaced Khan after his ouster, did not immediately comment.

Khan has been in prison since August 2023, when a court handed him a three-year sentence after convicting him of hiding assets after selling state gifts. The conviction led to Khan being barred from participating in politics and from running in the February 8 election, which his party accuses of being rigged.

The Pakistani Election Commission, which oversaw the vote, denied allegations of electoral fraud.

Despite his convictions in multiple cases, Khan remains the leading opposition figure.

Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has a strong presence in parliament, welcomed the request by the UN group, which said Khan’s detention in the corruption case had no legal basis and appeared to be aimed at disqualifying him from running for office. The group said Khan had been detained for exercising his right to freedom of expression or opinion and had also been denied his right to a fair trial and due process.

The UN working group demanded Khan's immediate release, saying it was an appropriate solution.

The group also said that Khan's conviction in the corruption case was part of a much broader crackdown targeting the PTI in general and Khan in particular.

“As Pakistan’s February 2024 general elections approach, PTI candidates have been arrested, tortured and intimidated to force them to leave the party; PTI rallies have been disrupted and blocked; and the party has been stripped of its iconic symbol, the cricket bat, forcing its candidates to run as independents.”

The UN group also said that Khan himself faces more than 150 politically motivated criminal cases and, just days before the election, he was convicted in three more cases and sentenced to an additional 10, 14 and seven years in prison, respectively.

For Khan, 71, the cumulative 34-year prison sentence amounts to a life sentence, the group said. Khan's spokesman, Zulfi Bukhari, welcomed the group's findings and calls for Khan's release.

Khan's party won the most seats in the February 8 poll but failed to secure the majority needed to form a government.

Munir Ahmed, Associated Press

Sources 1/ https://Google.com/ 2/ https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/07/01/un-group-demands-release-of-ex-pakistan-pm-imran-khan-says-his-detention-violates-international-law/ The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article

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