Synopsis
A US congressional delegation's recent visit to Pakistan did not include discussions about former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as claimed by PTI leaders. Despite PTI's efforts to raise Khan's case, the delegation stated they would not interfere in Pakistan's internal politics.Key Takeaways
- US lawmakers did not discuss Imran Khan's case.
- PTI accused the government of excluding their leaders from meetings.
- Ayaz Sadiq claimed PTI leaders were invited to dinner.
- Trump administration unlikely to intervene in Khan's situation.
- PTI continues to seek US support for Khan's release.
Islamabad, April 15 (NationPress) A recent visit by a delegation of US lawmakers to Pakistan included multiple discussions with senior government and military officials, yet the case of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated at Adiala Jail, was not mentioned or addressed.
Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker, Ayaz Sadiq, who had a brief encounter with the US delegation, expressed doubts that the new US administration under President Donald Trump would intervene to help Khan or influence his release from prison. Sadiq remarked that during their meetings in Islamabad, the lawmakers did not refer to the PTI's founding chairman.
The US congressional delegation, which engaged in several discussions with government officials and politicians at the Pakistan Minerals Forum 2025, clearly stated that they had no intention of involving themselves in Pakistan's domestic political situation, according to Sadiq.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party led by Imran Khan, has been actively advocating for the issue of his alleged 'illegal arrest' in what they claim are fabricated cases against him, alongside the ongoing crackdown by the government and military against party leadership. The PTI had hoped the Trump administration would raise this issue with the coalition government led by Shehbaz Sharif to secure Khan's release.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan accused the government of purposefully excluding party leaders from interactions with the US delegation.
“I was not informed of any meetings or received any invitations, formal or informal,” Gohar Ali Khan asserted.
However, Ayaz Sadiq countered these claims by stating that Gohar Ali Khan and Amir Dogar were invited to a dinner for the US delegation, which they opted not to attend.
“This was a prime opportunity for PTI leaders to engage directly with the Americans, whom they frequently seek support from,” Sadiq added.
As the US lawmakers were in Islamabad, PTI leaders persistently tagged them in social media posts, highlighting the government's intentional exclusion of their leadership from discussions.
Historically, the White House has refrained from commenting on Khan's arrest and has opted to avoid interfering in Pakistan's internal affairs.
The Trump administration's silence on the Imran Khan situation has allowed the Shehbaz Sharif-led government to criticize PTI's leadership for their inability to sway US officials on their behalf.
