A bipartisan bill introduced in the US Congress on Monday proposes sanctions on Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, for his alleged role in suppressing political opponents, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as reported by The Hill. Titled the "Pakistan Democracy Act," the legislation was introduced by Representatives Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.). It calls for targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, requiring the US government to identify individuals involved in political persecution in Pakistan within 180 days and impose penalties such as visa bans and travel restrictions. The bill specifically accuses Munir of orchestrating the wrongful persecution and imprisonment of political figures and calls for similar actions against others involved.

Wilson has consistently condemned Khan’s imprisonment, labeling it politically motivated. He emphasized that he urged the US administration to use visa bans and other measures to pressure Pakistan’s military into restoring democracy and securing Khan’s release. The bill includes provisions for lifting sanctions if Pakistan reinstates civilian-led governance and releases detained political leaders.

Khan, who was ousted through a no-confidence vote in 2022, was arrested in August 2023 on corruption charges. His supporters claim these charges were fabricated to prevent his political comeback, allegedly orchestrated by the military. Lawmakers from both major US parties, including Representatives Greg Casar, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Brad Sherman, Ro Khanna, and Jack Bergman, have urged for his release.

Richard Grenell, a former Trump administration official, has also expressed support for Khan. In December, he posted on social media platform X, likening Khan’s imprisonment to politically motivated prosecutions worldwide, a post that garnered over 12 million views. Meanwhile, US officials have been cautious in their response. Earlier this month, former President Trump praised Pakistan’s cooperation in arresting an ISIS-linked suspect, while US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to comment on Khan’s case, stating that the administration does not interfere in other nations' internal matters.

Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the US, expressed skepticism about Washington taking action, suggesting that the US is unlikely to impose sanctions solely to secure Khan’s release. He pointed out that some members of Congress appear unaware of Khan’s historical criticism of US policies.

Michael Kugelman, South Asia director at the Wilson Center, also downplayed the likelihood of sanctions, highlighting the irony of Khan’s supporters accusing the US of his ouster while simultaneously seeking its intervention for his release. He noted that while Khan’s allies see this as a move to counter foreign interference, the issue remains politically contentious. Haqqani further suggested that the push for sanctions may be more about US domestic politics than genuine concern for Pakistan’s internal affairs, remarking that some lawmakers have mistakenly portrayed Khan as pro-American despite his past anti-US rhetoric.

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