The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has pinned its hopes on the new US administration for the release of the party’s founder and incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan.

In a recent interview, PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari has announced his plans to bring the issue of alleged mistreatment of Khan before the Trump government.

Bukhari, who is Khan’s adviser on international affairs, claimed that he was in contact with Trump’s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

But the former prime minister does not believe that the new US administration would seek his release or play any role in this regard. “I hope that Trump will at least be neutral and will not be like Joe Biden. The matter of my release will be resolved within Pakistan, not through the United States,” he told reporters earlier in the day at the Adiala Jail.

Bukhari added that he would personally travel to Washington to meet with Trump’s daughter, son-in-law, and members of their team to discuss the alleged injustices faced by Khan and his party.

He further asserted that he is in contact with Trump’s family and team, and he is awaiting the inauguration before presenting the matter directly. He also intends to discuss broader issues surrounding human rights, democratic values, and the rule of law in Pakistan after Trump assumes office.

Bukhari claimed that Trump has previously expressed concerns over Khan’s legal challenges.

Meanwhile, former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry also spoke on the same wavelength. He was of the view that the US has already spoken about the “unfair trials” faced by the PTI founder.

Chaudhry expressed his belief that Trump would intervene for Khan’s release, asserting that the US President-elect would not overlook congressional resolutions.

He noted that following Trump’s victory, PML-N members were deleting old social media posts out of concern. The former information minister expressed hope that the Government of Pakistan would fulfil its constitutional and international human rights obligations and that the people’s decisions would be respected in Pakistan.

Leader of Opposition Omar Ayub also congratulated the billionaire-turned-politician on winning the US presidential election.

In a post on X, he congratulated Trump and Vice President JD Vance on winning the election. “We hope this team will promote better relations between the people of Pakistan and the United States.”

In response to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s statement, PTI leader Asad Qaiser said: “Asif is at an age where he should not be taken seriously.”

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It merits here mentioning that the defence minister had claimed that some individuals believed it was only a matter of time before a call from the US led to Khan being handed over, saying that Pakistan could not afford to refuse such a call.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch also clarified that speculations regarding interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs are “incorrect.”

Qaiser added that the PTI does not concern itself with Trump’s success and that the party believes in its struggle. “We do not allow anyone to interfere in our country’s matters.”