Indian American Democratic Congressman Suhas Subramanyam has raised sharp concerns over the treatment of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, warning that the situation sends a deeply troubling signal about the state of democracy and human rights in Pakistan. The congressman made his remarks in an interview after meeting a member of Khan's family, who provided a detailed account of the former leader's condition.

What the Congressman Said

'The Khans have not been treated properly. They've been treated inhumanely. They deserve the medical attention,' Subramanyam said, stressing that Khan had come to power through a democratic mandate. 'Imran Khan was the democratically elected leader of Pakistan. And so this is a bad signal when it comes to democracy in Pakistan, human rights in Pakistan,' he added.

Subramanyam made clear that Pakistan's status as a US ally would not — and should not — shield it from congressional scrutiny. 'Even though Pakistan is an ally of the US, and we have a wonderful Pakistani American community here, we need to hold them to task and call out what's going on with our allies included,' he said.

Immediate Priority: Medical Care for Khan

When pressed on what he wanted to see happen, Subramanyam was direct. 'Right now, we just wanna make sure that he gets the medical attention he needs, and that right now, we promote and encourage democracy in Pakistan,' he said. The congressman confirmed he would continue writing letters and speaking publicly to keep pressure on the issue.

'That's why I continue sending the letters. That's why I continue trying to speak out and be vocal about wanting to make sure that the democracy is still alive in Pakistan,' he said. 'I think it's good for the people there, and it's good for the relationship between the US and Pakistan.'

Concerns Over Pakistan Army and Regional Role

Subramanyam also expressed longer-term reservations about the direction of Pakistan's civil-military establishment. 'Pakistan is still an ally, but, longer term, I still have concerns about Munir and the regime there,' he said, referring to Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir. He warned that Washington must ensure it is 'not simply complicit in some of the attacks on democracy there.'

On Pakistan's current role as a mediator between the United States and Iran, the congressman was sceptical. 'Right now, Pakistan is a mediator between the US and Iran. Those talks have not gone well,' he said, adding: 'I'm a little skeptical any positive outcome will come out of it.'

Criticism of Trump's Iran Strategy

Subramanyam also criticised President Donald Trump for what he described as a failure to seek a longer-term congressional strategy on the conflict with Iran. 'We were told last year in Congress that we didn't have the money for healthcare, like food assistance, the basic needs of American citizens,' he said. 'And yeah, here we are a year later spending a billion dollars a day in Iran.' The remarks underscore growing Democratic unease with the administration's foreign policy priorities and their domestic cost.

This comes amid sustained international attention on Khan's imprisonment, with rights groups and foreign legislators increasingly vocal about conditions inside Pakistani detention facilities. Subramanyam's intervention marks one of the more pointed congressional statements on the matter to date.