US PTI to mobilise on Trump's oath-taking for Imran's release

• Trucks will display visuals of Pakistan’s alleged human rights violations.
• Critics slam PTI for contradicting its past anti-American stance.
• Trump’s team focused on US issues, unlikely to prioritise PTI leader.
  

NEW YORK: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) plans to launch a campaign for the release of its leader, Imran Khan, on the oath-taking ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump in Washington on January 20, The News reported.

Sources reveal that the PTI intends to deploy trucks using pictures and videos highlighting alleged human rights violations in Pakistan and the role of state institutions. These trucks will operate on open roads, while certain areas near Capitol Hill and the White House will remain closed due to the event.

The campaign aims to intensify pressure on the Pakistani government amid ongoing negotiations with the party, while, political circles in the United States continue their vocal advocacy for Khan’s release, amplifying calls for action on the global stage.

However, sources said President-elect Trump and his team need to focus more on US domestic issues, the economy, congressional approval of appointments, the Middle East situation and change in foreign policy than the release of PTI founder.

A major effort by the PTI is to get a few more statements about the release of PTI founder, like that of Richard Grenell, to increase pressure on Pakistan.

However, circles objecting to the efforts of PTI in the United States say that the party, which in the past campaigned against America by raising the slogan of getting freedom from it, was now demanding the release of PTI leader from the same country.

It is a fact that there is no shortage of funds for the PTI’s campaign in America, while people who are busy campaigning through social media don’t mention their role in the anti-American campaign in the past.

Grenell, who is also a close confidant of Trump, garnered attention in Pakistan when he demanded the release of Imran, who was ousted in April 2022 through a parliamentary no-confidence vote.

"Release Imran Khan," Trump's ally tweeted on November 26 — the day when authorities launched a late-night crackdown against PTI protesters marching on Islamabad's D-Chowk.

Earlier, while talking to a US media outlet, Grenell said that the US had a much better relationship with Pakistan during the Trump administration when Imran Khan was the leader of Pakistan because "he was an outsider".

"He [Imran Khan] was a former cricket player, he wasn’t a politician and he spoke in very common sense language, and he and Donald Trump had a very good relationship," he said.

Reiterating his demand to release Imran, he said: "There are a lot of the same allegations just like President Trump, where the ruling party put him in prison and created some sort of corruption allegations and false allegations."

Grenell has held several critical roles during Trump's first administration, including US ambassador to Germany, Special Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations, and Acting Director of National Intelligence.

PTI leaders, including Zartaj Gul and Aliya Hamza, have welcomed Grenell's statements with PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram saying that if someone advocates for human rights "he will be welcomed".

"We are thankful for the statement but that doesn’t mean we want interference [in internal affairs of country]," he clarified.