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U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, who represents Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, has condemned the “inhumane” conditions in which former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is reportedly being held, saying the treatment of a “democratically” elected leader raises serious concerns about democracy and human rights in Pakistan.
Subramanyam noted that Khan was a “democratically” elected leader and said his treatment sends a troubling signal about the state of democracy and human rights in Pakistan, a U.S. ally.
On August 11, Subramanyam led a bipartisan letter urging the State Department to review concerns about the detention conditions of Khan and his wife, Bushra Imran Khan. The lawmakers called on the department to raise concerns about their continued detention and treatment with the Pakistani government.
“I met with Imran Khan’s sister-in-law, and she gave me a pretty good overview of what’s really happening. The Khans have not been treated properly; they’ve been treated inhumanely. They deserve medical attention,” Subramanyam told Indian American journalists on August 23, in Herndon, Virginia.
“Right now, we just want to make sure that he gets the medical attention he needs,” he added. “That’s why I continue trying to speak out and be vocal about wanting to make sure that democracy is still alive in Pakistan. I think it’s good for the people there, and it’s good for the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan. We need to hold them to task and call out what’s going on, with our allies included.”
Subramanyam also described the economic fallout from the U.S.-Iran war as “very real” and “very visceral” for many Americans.
Subramanyam told South Asian Herald, “We were told last year in Congress that we didn’t have the money for healthcare, food assistance, or the basic needs of American citizens, and here we are a year later, spending a billion dollars a day in Iran.”
He said the “economics” make no sense and argued that the spending is raising costs for American families.
“When people look at rising costs and they see groceries, gas, and housing go up, they think maybe this is inflation, but it’s not,” he said. “It’s actually inflation caused by these wars and by these failed policies. So, we need to change course. And if we are in the majority as Democrats next year, we will have those difficult conversations, and we will force change.”
Asked whether Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s August 24 visit to Iran could produce a positive outcome, Subramanyam expressed skepticism.
“I’m a little skeptical that any positive outcome will come out of it. I know the president will always come out and say positive things to try to move things in the right direction. But in the end, the reality is we’re stuck in Iran right now,” he said.
Subramanyam said there was no clear path out of the conflict and criticized the president for not working with Congress on an exit strategy or long-term plan, describing that approach as being to his “detriment.”
“And if there’s a Democratic majority next year, we’re going to hold him to task on that when it comes to funding, for example, for the Iran war,” he added.
Addressing Pakistan’s potential role as a mediator between the United States and Iran, Subramanyam said the talks had not gone well. He acknowledged the importance of Pakistan undertaking such a role as a U.S. ally but reiterated his broader concerns about its leadership.
“I still have concerns about Munir and the regime there, and we just need to make sure that we are calling that out, that we are not simply complicit in some of the attacks on democracy there,” he said.
Subramanyam also described the contributions of the South Asian diaspora in Virginia and across the United States as “incredible.”
“Whether it’s journalism or business or healthcare, we have seen such amazing growth, not just in terms of numbers, but in terms of contributions to Virginia and really all over the country,” he said.
Subramanyam said South Asians have made a significant impact in the communities where they live.
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