PTI’s Zulfi Bukhari felicitates Donald Trump, expresses hope for ‘redressal of injustices’ in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, NOV 6 (DNA):Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Zulfi Bukhari on Wednesday congratulated Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on claiming victory against Democratic opponent Kamala Harris to become the United States’ 47th president saying that he hopes that the billionaire will contribute towards ending conflicts and redressal of injustices globally and those committed inside Pakistan.

“Many congratulations to President Trump, the vice president and his whole team on behalf of the PTI, [its founder] Imran Khan,” said Bukhari after the Republican candidate’s victory speech in Palm Beach, Florida after US media projected him winning 277 electoral college votes against Harris’s 222.

“This is a reminder that in a democratic country, it does not matter how many fake cases are made against a leader and state machinery is used against him, they always win [if there’s democracy],” he added while highlighting Trump has been elected on a mandate of peace and economy.

“We hope that he [Trump] takes the US towards peace and helps towards [bringing] peace in light of the existing wars and conflicts […] and we also hope that his focus will also be on injustices around the world and those committed inside Pakistan,” added Zulfi who is also Khan’s adviser on international affairs and has orchestrated a media campaign in the UK and an international campaign in support the incarcerated former prime minister.

He also felicitates the US on successful elections and the transition of powers.

The PTI leader’s remarks come against the backdrop of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s claims that the former ruling party was urging foreign powers to get its founder Khan, who has been behind bars for more than a year now, released and settled abroad.

“They are telling the foreign powers to influence Pakistan towards releasing Imran Khan and send him to so-and-so country,” said Asif during an interview with a private news channel on Tuesday.

The federal minister’s remarks came a week after as many as 20 British parliamentarians from cross-party have urged Member of Parliament and United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy to call for the former prime minister’s release from Adiala, asking the government to engage with Islamabad on the matter.

The letter was written by Kim Johnson, MP for Liverpool Riverside, at the request of Bukhari. It was signed by members of both the Commons and the Lords, from all parties.

Separately, more than 60 members of the US House of Representatives also wrote a letter to President Joe Biden, calling on him to use Washington’s leverage with the Pakistani government for the release of the incarcerated founder.

“We write today to urge you to use the United States’ substantial leverage with Pakistan’s government to secure the release of political prisoners including former prime minister Khan and curtail widespread human rights abuses,” said the lawmakers’ letter.