ANI WASHINGTON

A bipartisan bill, the "Pakistan Democracy Act”, has been introduced in the US Congress, seeking sanctions against Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir, for his alleged role in persecuting political opponents, including Pakistan’s former  Prime Minister Imran Khan, The Hill reported.

Introduced by Representatives Joe Wilson and Jimmy Panetta, the Bill invokes the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, alleging Munir's involvement in the persecution of political opponents, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan.  

The Bill mandates that within 180 days, the US government identify individuals involved in political persecution in Pakistan and impose penalties, including visa bans and restrictions on entry into the United States. Wilson has publicly said that Khan is a "political prisoner" and has urged the US administration to pressure Pakistan's military to restore democracy.  

The bill specifies that sanctions can be lifted if Pakistan ends military rule, reinstates civilian democracy, and releases all detained political figures. Khan, removed from office in 2022 and arrested in 2023 on corruption charges, maintains that the charges are politically motivated.   Former Trump administration official Richard Grenell has also voiced support for Khan, comparing his situation to political prosecutions, The Hill said.

US lawmakers have repeatedly called for Khan's release. Despite these calls, the US State Department has declined to comment on Khan's situation, citing a policy of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs.