The cases against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and other lawmakers have been deemed to be internal Pakistani affairs by the United States.
The State Department responded to a query from local media via email by saying that the legal actions taken against Imran Khan and other lawmakers in Pakistan are internal matters.
The department stated, “We call for the respect of democratic principles and the rule of law in Pakistan, as we do around the world,” and repeatedly referred to Khan’s assertions that the US overthrew his administration as “baseless”.
After being convicted of graft in the Toshakhana case by a court in the capital on Saturday, the former prime minister was sentenced to three years in prison; this certainly prevents him from running in elections later this year.
In Pakistan, anyone convicted of a crime is unable to run for office. The parliament is expected to be dissolved in the next two weeks before it expires, and a national election will likely take place by mid-November or sooner.
Khan, 70, was not present for his Saturday sentencing because he has been involved in many legal battles involving accusations that he claims are politically motivated since being ousted in a vote of no confidence last year.
