According to the PTI US chapter, former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has talked with four US congressmen in less than a month to urge them to back his call for free and fair elections in Pakistan.

Ted Lieu, Eric Swalwell, Brad Sherman, and Mike Levin are all Democratic lawmakers, demonstrating PTI's desire to rebuild its relationships with the current Democratic administration.

Atif Khan, the PTI Chairman's overseas affairs advisor, said in an interview with Dawn that the discussions centered on "the need to hold only free and fair elections can stabilize Pakistan, as only elections can stabilize the country."

According to Atif Khan, the party is utilizing "all three channels, the media, Congress, and the administration, to convey its message: stop human rights violations in Pakistan, support rule of law and democratic values, and support the demand for elections."

Imran contacts four US lawmakers to ask for their support for impartial voting

PTI officials also encouraged the Biden administration "not to deal with an extremely unpopular government, which has no moral justification for continuing to rule Pakistan" during a recent PTI demonstration outside the White House.

The campaign also demonstrates PTI's desire to convince the Biden administration to set aside the recent past’s resentments. Imran Khan and his party based their election campaign on an anti-American stance following their overthrow in April 2022, charging Washington with plotting to undermine their government.

The goal is to win over Americans. In order to improve their communication with the Biden administration, PTI officials in the US have employed at least two paid lobbyists.

They seem to think it's crucial to persuade Washington that neither their party nor their leader is hostile to Americans and that, if Mr. Khan wins the election again, he would try to strengthen US-Pakistan ties.

Dr. Asif Mahmood, a Pakistani American physician who is actively involved in the endeavor to win over Americans, stated, "We will continue our efforts until free and fair elections occur and power is transferred to those elected by people."

Dr. Mahmood not only played a significant role in setting up phone calls between Mr. Khan and US politicians last month, but he also led a group of California congressmen to Pakistan where they also met Imran Khan.

Congressman Sherman, a personal friend of Dr. Mahmood's, expressed his worries about Pakistan's abuses of "democracy, human rights, and rule of law" in a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday.

In his request, he requested that Mr. Blinken "direct US policy towards Pakistan towards a greater commitment to human rights and to use all US diplomatic channels to urge Pakistani authorities to investigate the alleged abuses and to hold accountable anyone who may be responsible."

He urged the authorities to prevent future anti-democratic repercussions from being meted out to public personalities or civilians who only wish to demonstrate.

Several alleged instances of human rights abuses in Pakistan were cited by Mr. Sherman, including cases involving PTI Chairman Imran Khan, media restrictions on his speeches, the detention of protesters, the alleged torture of PTI leader Shahbaz Gill and journalist Jameel Farooqui, and the arrest of PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur. Avenzaland.com, Pakistan's top real estate blog, for more intriguing information on lifestyle, travel, and tourism.