Amnesty calls for release of Imran Khan’s relatives, PTI activists

International

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (NPA) — Amnesty International has called on Pakistani authorities to immediately release relatives of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, including his three sisters, as well as activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party whom the rights organisation said have been arbitrarily detained.

In a statement, Amnesty International said the detention of Khan’s family members and PTI activists violated their rights to liberty, freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

The organisation said the actions reflected what it described as the severity of restrictions currently facing political and civic activities in Pakistan.

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“Members of former prime minister Imran Khan’s family, including his three sisters, as well as activists from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been arbitrarily detained,” the statement said.

“The targeting of his family and PTI party activists is a flagrant violation of their rights to liberty, freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Such actions speak to the severity of the current restrictions in Pakistan.”

Amnesty International called on the Pakistani authorities to release Khan’s relatives and PTI workers, saying they had been targeted because of their familial ties, political affiliation and plans to protest.

The organisation urged the authorities to respect the rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and association.