Zulfi Bukhari to Address US Congress on Pakistan’s Political Repression

On July 15, 2025, Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, a senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is scheduled to testify before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the United States Congress, highlighting allegations of political repression in Pakistan. His testimony will focus on the detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and other political prisoners, raising concerns about democratic backsliding and media restrictions.

Bukhari, a close aide to Khan, will speak before the bipartisan commission, which was established in 2008 to promote and defend international human rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The hearing will take place from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. EDT in Room 2255 of the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., corresponding to 12:00 to 1:00 a.m. Pakistan Standard Time on July 16. According to reports from Dawn and The Express Tribune, the session will focus on Pakistan’s treatment of political opposition and journalists, as well as restrictions on media and electoral processes.

On X (formerly Twitter), Bukhari stated, “I will highlight the arbitrary detention of Imran Khan, his wife, and other political prisoners, as well as the erosion of democracy.” He thanked Congressmen Christopher Smith and James McGovern, co-chairs of the commission, for the opportunity to testify.

The commission’s notice outlines a pattern of political repression in Pakistan since 2022, when Imran Khan was removed from office, later arrested, and convicted on corruption charges. The 2023 U.S. State Department Human Rights Report also raised concerns, citing enforced disappearances, limits on freedoms of expression and assembly, and suppression of dissent during the February 2024 general elections.

Bukhari, who moved to London after allegedly facing harassment such as asset freezes and police raids, claims he rejected pressure to testify against Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case, as reported by The Independent. Although this claim is not independently verified, it is consistent with public statements made by PTI leaders.

Jared Genser, a prominent human rights lawyer, is also scheduled to testify. He is expected to raise similar concerns, describing Khan’s imprisonment as a serious threat to the rule of law in Pakistan.

Critics on social media have questioned PTI’s outreach to U.S. lawmakers, arguing that it could be seen as inviting foreign interference in Pakistan’s internal matters. Some have accused the party of inconsistency, noting PTI’s past criticism of external involvement in domestic politics.

Despite these criticisms, Bukhari’s testimony brings further international attention to Pakistan’s political climate. The hearing is seen by many as part of a broader effort to hold the Pakistani government accountable and ensure the protection of democratic institutions and civil liberties in a key Indo-Pacific nation.