A United Nations human rights working group on July 1 called for the immediate release of Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying he had been detained “arbitrarily in violation of international laws.”

Imran Khan, Pakistan’s ousted prime minister, expects to be arrested soon and says he will continue to fight for democracy and the rule of law By Robert Treichler

by Shahzad Akbar

The United Kingdom prides itself on being a champion of democracy and human rights, frequently condemning political repression and imprisonment in authoritarian states such as China, Iran, Russia and North Korea. 

Yet, its response to the arbitrary imprisonment of Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan an elected leader with extensive ties to Britain has been muted at best and complicit at worst over the last two years. 

Speaker: Imran Khan Prime Minister of Pakistan

Presider: Richard N. Haass

Prime Minister Imran Khan discusses the current state of U.S.-Pakistan relations, recent developments in the disputed region of Kashmir, and Pakistan’s relationship with India, Afghanistan, and other neighboring countries.

Fourteen former international cricket captains from five Test teams have appealed to the Pakistan government to request better prison treatment for Imran Khan, amid serious fears for the health of the 73-year-old ex-captain and prime minister.

The petition, drafted by former Australian skipper Greg Chappell and delivered to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday afternoon, has also been undersigned by former Indian captains Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, plus the likes of Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark and Kim Hughes.

by Rohit Kachroo

Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has urged Sir Keir Starmer to raise awareness of threats to democracy in Pakistan in a rare interview granted from solitary confinement

by Caroline Davies – BBC News Islamabad

It was a surreal moment. On Tuesday night during his live TV show, Pakistani anchor Kashif Abbasi was talking about a legal petition filed by a lawyer against former prime minister Imran Khan.

Mr Abbasi says his name, then stops himself: “He filed an application under article six against Imran Khan… I apologise, against the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf.”

We tried to speak to Mr Abbasi, but he did not get back to us.

Article by Christina Lamb

The Times: rare interview from behind bars – Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has said he is being caged like a terrorist

Pakistan’s election authorities have delayed the election for a crucial regional assembly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government refused to provide the necessary funds and polling staff citing financial constraints.

Thousands of protesters in Pakistan defied a security crackdown on a march to Islamabad. At least one police officer was killed and dozens of people injured as supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan clashed with security forces outside Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, according to officials and the PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) Party.

Authorities have enforced a security lockdown for the last two days after Khan called for a march on parliament for a sit-in demonstration to demand his release, while highways into the city have been barricaded. Voted out of power by parliament in 2022 after he fell out with Pakistan’s powerful military, Khan faces charges ranging from corruption to instigation of violence, all of which he and his party deny.

Why do people think Imran Khan can save the country’s future? This time on News Desk, we ask: Imran Khan: Hope or Hype? Why are Pakistanis protesting for him?