Suhas Subramanyam Raises Concerns Over Treatment of Imran Khan in Pakistan

WASHINGTON — Indian American Congressman Suhas Subramanyam has raised concerns over the treatment of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying the situation raises broader questions about democracy and human rights in the country.

Subramanyam said he received a detailed account of Khan’s condition during a meeting with a member of the former prime minister’s family.

“The Khans have not been treated properly. They’ve been treated inhumanely. They deserve the medical attention,” Subramanyam said in an interview.

He noted that Khan had come to power through elections and said his treatment sends a troubling message about Pakistan’s democratic institutions.

“And let’s remember that Imran Khan was the democratically elected leader of Pakistan,” Subramanyam said. “And so this is a bad signal when it comes to democracy in Pakistan, human rights in Pakistan.”

Subramanyam said Pakistan’s strategic ties with Washington should not prevent U.S. lawmakers from criticizing the actions of its authorities.

“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.

He said the immediate priority should be ensuring that Khan receives adequate medical care while also promoting democratic norms in Pakistan.

“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,” Subramanyam said.

The congressman said he plans to continue speaking publicly and sending letters about developments in Pakistan.

“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.”

Subramanyam also discussed Pakistan’s role as a mediator between the United States and Iran, saying the country continues to play an important diplomatic role despite his concerns about its leadership.

“Right now, Pakistan is a mediator between the US and Iran. Those talks have not gone well,” he said. “It’s important to see Pakistan playing that role.”

“Pakistan is still an ally, but, longer term, I still have concerns about Munir and the regime there,” he added, referring to Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir.

Subramanyam said Washington must ensure that it is “not simply complicit in some of the attacks on democracy there.”

He also expressed skepticism that Pakistan’s engagement with Iran would produce an immediate breakthrough.

“I’m a little skeptical any positive outcome will come out of it,” he said.

Subramanyam criticized President Donald Trump for what he described as a lack of a long-term strategy approved by Congress for the conflict with Iran, while questioning the cost to American taxpayers.

“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.” (Source: IANS)