On Tuesday, the US State Department expressed its support for the Pakistani people’s right to protest peacefully. US Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller called on Pakistani authorities to respect human rights and freedoms.
The comments from the US came as former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is jailed, called for nationwide protests, with Islamabad as the epicenter. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), stated that the protests aim to achieve three main objectives: the revocation of the 26th Amendment, the restoration of the Constitution, and the release of political prisoners.
As thousands of protesters headed to Islamabad, violent clashes erupted between citizens and the police, as per reports. The ongoing unrest has intensified concerns in Pakistan.
When asked about the escalating situation, Miller emphasized, “We support freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. We call on protesters to demonstrate peacefully and avoid violence. At the same time, we urge Pakistani authorities to respect human rights, follow the law, and maintain order.”
Imran Khan has now been imprisoned for over 470 days, PTI reported. Miller also addressed questions about Pakistan’s future, stating, “We support the right of people in Pakistan to protest peacefully. We call on Pakistani authorities to respect human rights and freedoms.”
Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, joined the calls for his release. As PTI convoys moved toward Islamabad for the “Final Call” protests, Bibi told supporters that the march would not end until Khan was freed, as reported. PTI has launched a nationwide protest to secure his release.
PTI Final Call
Bushra bb leading the protest pic.twitter.com/cedIGmRnZz— Taimoor Sohail (@TaimoorSohail3) November 25, 2024
