Imran Khan assured he is not anti-American: US Congressman

ISLAMABAD: United States (US) Congressman Brad Sherman has asserted that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has assured him that he was not an anti-American and believes in supremacy of rule of law, ARY News reported on Saturday.

Speaking to international media, US Congressman said that he held a telephonic conversation with former prime minister of Pakistan – Imran Khan, wherein the latter assured that he was not an anti-American and believes in supremacy of rule of law.

Brad Sherman pointed out a letter written to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken – about concerns over “democracy, human rights, and rule of law” violations in Pakistan, clarifying that the letter was not precisely to support PTI chief.

He further said that he was the one who criticised Imran Khan for accusing the United States of overthrowing the government.

It is pertinent to mention here that US Congressman Brad Sherman wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, voicing concerns over “democracy, human rights, and rule of law” violations in Pakistan.

In a letter, Sherman asked Blinken to “guide the United States’ Pakistan policy toward a greater commitment to human rights and to use all US diplomatic channels to urge Pakistani authorities to investigate the alleged abuses and to hold accountable anybody who may be responsible”.

“I urge the authorities to make sure that going forward political figures or citizens who simply want to demonstrate are not subjected to anti-democratic consequences,” he added.

He highlighted several alleged cases of human rights violations in Pakistan, including cases against PTI Chairman Imran Khan and media ban on his speeches, detention of protesters, the alleged torture of PTI leader Shahbaz Gill and journalist Jameel Farooqui, and the recent arrest of PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur.