Islamabad – A coordinated lobbying campaign reportedly initiated by a firm associated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has prompted concern in Islamabad over what officials view as external involvement in the country’s internal political and judicial affairs.
The campaign, which includes email and letter outreach to members of the United States Congress, is aimed at urging lawmakers to raise their voice against the imprisonment of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan. The effort, active for several months, appears designed to exert pressure on Pakistan’s legal and political processes through international channels.
Pattern of Political Lobbying
This recent development adds to a series of past engagements by PTI and affiliated entities with US-based lobbying firms. In August 2022, PTI’s USA chapter based in New York, contracted Fenton/Arlook LLC for public relations services at a reported cost of $25,000 per month. The firm was tasked with managing US media relations and promoting ties between PTI, the Pakistani diaspora, and American institutions, particularly in the aftermath of Imran Khan’s removal from office.
In March 2023, another agreement was signed between PTI USA and Praia Consultants LLC, which was reportedly engaged to raise concerns about Khan’s personal security and provide guidance on building ties with the US government. These efforts reflect a long-term approach of the PTI and its proponents to establish contacts with the US political establishment and shape their opinions on the internal situation in Pakistan, especially after the arrest of Khan, and the ensuing repression against his party.
More recently, in July 2025, Zulfi Bukhari, a senior aide to Imran Khan, appeared before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US Congress. During the hearing, titled “Pakistan: Ongoing Political Repression,” he reportedly raised concerns over the detention of Khan, curbs on civil liberties, and broader political developments in Pakistan.
Sovereignty and Diplomatic Norms
Officials in Islamabad, speaking to the Hindukush Tribune Network (HTN), have voiced concern that such lobbying activities may undermine Pakistan’s sovereignty and the credibility of its legal institutions. The practice of seeking external support to influence domestic matters is viewed as a breach of diplomatic norms and the principle of non-interference in a sovereign state’s affairs.
According to government sources, this form of foreign pressure, particularly when targeting individual legislators in the US, risks circumventing Pakistan’s judicial processes. It is also seen as an attempt to project a lack of confidence in Pakistan’s legal system while applying external pressure to achieve political outcomes.
Risk to Bilateral Ties
The Pakistani government maintains that continued efforts to internationalize domestic political issues through unofficial or non-diplomatic channels could damage the current positive trajectory of Pakistan–US relations. While authorities have called for careful monitoring of such activities, they have ruled out the need for impulsive responses that could escalate tensions.
Emphasis has instead been placed on strengthening Pakistan’s legal and democratic institutions and reinforcing confidence in the independence of the judiciary. Officials caution that any reaction must be measured to avoid disrupting diplomatic progress and bilateral goodwill between Islamabad and Washington.
