Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has welcomed US President-elect Donald Trump’s special envoy Richard Grenell’s pro-Imran Khan statements and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) has Criticized. Foreign interference in the country
Grenell, who is also a close Trump ally, gained attention in Pakistan when he called for the release of Imran, who was ousted by a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022.
“Release Imran Khan,” the Trump ally tweeted on November 26 — the day authorities launched a late-night crackdown on PTI protesters marching on Islamabad’s D Chowk.
A day earlier, Grenell had told an American media outlet that the US had a much better relationship with Pakistan during the Trump administration when Imran Khan was Pakistan’s leader because “he was an outsider”.
“That [Imran Khan] A former cricketer, he was not a politician and he spoke very plain language, and he and Donald Trump had a very good relationship.
Reiterating his demand for Imran’s release, he said: “There are so many allegations like President Trump’s, where the ruling party put him in jail and accused him of corruption and false allegations.”
Grenell has held several key roles during Trump’s first administration, including U.S. ambassador to Germany, special envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace talks, and acting director of national intelligence.
Meanwhile, PTI leaders including Zartaj Gul and Alia Hamza along with PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram welcomed Grenell’s statements and said that if anyone advocates for human rights, he should be welcomed. will
“We are grateful for this statement but it does not mean that we want intervention. [in internal affairs of country]” he clarified.
In a statement, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that they want the freedom of Imran as per the constitution and law of Pakistan. PTI founder will be released by courts.
He was of the view that the party does not want the help of any country including America. “PTI will neither seek nor expect any interference,” Gauhar added.
‘Respect our sovereignty’
Addressing. Geo NewsMuslim League (N) Senator Talal Chaudhry, while reacting to the statements of Trump’s ally, said that the government’s position is very clear that this is our internal matter.
“America must respect our sovereignty,” he said, adding that he wanted his “baby.” [Imran Khan] He raised to return to power.
He rejected any possibility of PTI founder’s release with such statements saying that Imran is accused of corruption and violation of the constitution.
A day ago, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, while speaking Geo News program ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Saath’ – said the government “will not accept any pressure” from the new US administration to negotiate with the PTI or release its party founder.
Asked about possible pressure from the Trump administration in the wake of loyalist Richard Grenell’s tweet demanding Imran’s release, Sanaullah replied: “We will not act under pressure from Donald Trump. […] If any intrusion is made, we will consider it an intrusion into our sovereignty.
The prime minister’s aide, who is one of the members of the government’s negotiating committee, added that he had not started talks with the main opposition party because of Trump. He emphasized that there should be bilateral talks between the finance and the opposition.
After Imran was ousted as prime minister in a no-confidence vote, the PTI founder – who has been detained in Adiala Jail since August last year – had earlier alleged that he was behind his ouster in 2022. America had a hand, citing an alleged cipher. American diplomat Donald Lowe.
It is worth mentioning here that the former prime minister had a good relationship with Trump when he was president and had several meetings with the newly elected president, including at the White House.