(Web Desk) — Following a United Nations working group’s declaration that Imran Khan’s detention was illegal, a US official referred to the issue as an “internal matter” for Pakistan just hours later.
State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel, speaking during a routine press briefing on Monday, deferred detailed comments to the UN regarding their assessment. “I’ll defer to the United Nations to provide clarity on their comments,” he remarked. “Regarding Mr. Khan, as we’ve previously stated, this is an internal matter for Pakistan. I don’t have further assessment to offer from this platform.”
When pressed about a House resolution concerning Pakistan’s elections, Patel declined to comment on pending congressional legislation but reiterated the US stance on urging Pakistan to uphold the rights of its citizens.
“In general, concerning Pakistan, our top officials, including Secretary Blinken, Assistant Secretary Lu, and Ambassador Blome, have consistently advocated privately and publicly for Pakistan to respect its people’s rights in accordance with its constitution and international obligations,” Patel emphasized.
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention recently concluded that Imran Khan’s detention and legal proceedings in cases related to the Toshakhana and cipher issues were “without legal basis” and seemingly politically driven to hinder his political involvement.
