UN chief says wants Pakistan political situation to evolve in ‘more positive way’

In this file photograph, taken on June 9, 2023, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General during a press briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York. (Photo courtesy: UN/File)

• UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said in an opinion issued on Monday Imran Khan’s detention was ‘arbitrary’ 
• Pakistan government says Khan’s legal challenges are ‘internal matter’ and it is for courts to enforces country’s laws

ISLAMABAD: A spokesperson for UN Secretary General António Guterres said this week the chief wanted the political situation in Pakistan to evolve in a “much more positive way” when asked to comment on a UN human rights group declaring Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s detention arbitrary and in violation of international law.
The Geneva-based UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on Monday called for Khan’s immediate release, saying his legal woes were part of a “much larger campaign of repression” against him and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. It said that in the lead up to the 2024 general elections, members of Khan’s party were arrested and tortured, and their rallies were disrupted. It also alleged “widespread fraud on election day, stealing dozens of parliamentary seats.”
The PTI founder has been in jail since August last year and was convicted in a number of cases ahead of the February 8 elections while other hearings continue. Khan and his party say the charges were politically motivated to thwart his return to power.
During a daily press briefing on Tuesday, Guterres spokesperson was asked if he supported the UN group’s recommendations.
“It’s a recommendation from an independent panel,” Stéphane Dujarric said. “We want to see the current political situation, the current situation of Mr.Khan, evolve in a much more positive way.”
The Pakistan government said on Tuesday Khan’s legal challenges were an “internal matter” and it was for Pakistani courts to enforce the country’s laws. 
Khan’s jail sentences in two cases about the illegal acquisition and sale of state gifts have been suspended recently and his conviction on charges of leaking state secrets overturned. However, Khan has remained in prison due to a conviction in another case in which a trial court ruled that his 2018 marriage was unlawful. He also faces a trial under anti-terrorism charges in connection with violence in May last year.
The cricketer-turned-politician came to power in 2018 and was ousted in 2022 after what is widely believed to be a falling out with Pakistan’s powerful military. He had alleged the US orchestrated his ouster in cahoots with the Pakistan army and his political rivals through a parliamentary no-confidence vote. All three deny the accusations.
Multiple legal cases were brought against Khan following his ouster and he was also disqualified as a candidate in February’s election. Despite not contesting the polls himself, Khan-backed candidates secured the highest number of seats but the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) managed to form a fragile coalition government.
The US, Britain and the European Union have urged a probe into the reported irregularities in the national elections held earlier this year while the UN general secretary has expressed concern about violence and the suspension of mobile communications services during the polls.