A new bill was introduced in the US Congress on Monday, aiming to impose sanctions on Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir. The bill accuses him of being involved in the persecution of political opponents, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as reported by The Hill.

Reps. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) presented the "Pakistan Democracy Act," which calls for targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. The measure requires the US government to identify and sanction individuals engaging in political persecution in Pakistan within 180 days, including visa bans and entry restrictions. It directly accuses Munir of "knowingly engaging in the wrongful persecution and imprisonment of political opponents" and calls for similar action against those involved in the crackdown. Wilson has been outspoken against Khan's detention, which he calls politically motivated. "Mr. Khan is clearly a political prisoner," Wilson told The Hill, repeating his call for the US government to put pressure on Pakistan's military leadership through visa bans and other measures to restore democracy and ensure Khan's release. 

The law calls for the lifting of sanctions if Pakistan removes military rule, restores civilian-led democracy and frees all incarcerated political leaders. Khan was removed from office in 2022 through a no-confidence vote and later arrested in August 2023 on corruption charges. His supporters claim these charges are politically motivated and were planned by the military to keep him from returning to power. Several US lawmakers from both major parties have called for his release, including Greg Casar (D-Texas), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and Jack Bergman (R-Mich.).

Richard Grenell, a former Trump administration official, has also voiced support for Khan. In December, in a post on social media platform X, he said, "Watch Pakistan. Their Trump-like leader is in prison on phony charges, and the people have been inspired by the US Red Wave. Stop the political prosecutions around the world!" 

Earlier this month, President Trump, during a speech to Congress, expressed gratitude to Pakistan for helping arrest an ISIS member involved in the 2021 Kabul airport attack. However, last week, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce refused to comment on Khan's situation, saying the US does not get involved in other countries' internal matters, as reported by The Hill. Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, was suspicious of Washington's serious action. "It is unlikely that sanctions would be imposed on Pakistan just to secure the release of a populist but anti-American politician," Haqqani said, referencing Khan's past rhetoric against US policies.

After being removed from power, Khan repeatedly claimed that the United States, along with Pakistan's former opposition, was behind his ouster. He argued that the US wanted him out because of his independent foreign policy and resistance to American influence. His rallies often featured anti-US slogans, portraying his removal as a threat to Pakistan's sovereignty. However, the Biden administration has denied any involvement. Wilson acknowledged his disagreement with Khan's viewpoints. But stated that political differences should be resolved democratically. "But political differences should be dealt with at the ballot box," he said.

Michael Kugelman, South Asia director at the Wilson Center, discounted the probability of sanctions, citing the contradiction in Khan's camp's call for US engagement. "For many observers in DC, there is something deeply ironic about Khan supporters blaming the US for Khan's ouster and then calling on it to rescue him," he said. He pointed out that although Khan's supporters claim this is about undoing interference, that belief itself carries political implications, according to reports by The Hill.

Haqqani said that the parliamentarians' demand was motivated more by domestic politics than genuine concern for Pakistan's internal affairs."Several members of Congress are unaware of Khan's track record, as some have mistakenly described him as a friend of the US, which he has never claimed to be," he said.