United States President-elect Donald Trump would speak about ex-prime minister Imran Khan and basic human rights in the country because of the Pakistani diaspora’s pressure, former information minister Fawad Chaudhry has claimed.

“If you see Bloomberg’s report on Wednesday, you will see people who played a role in his fundraising are top Pakistani businessmen, including top oil tycoons,” he said while appearing on News Insight with Amir Zia which was aired on Aaj News on Thursday.

“They supported him because he [Trump] will speak about Khan and for basic rights in Pakistan.”

Several supporters of Khan have claimed that the new US president would advocate for his release because of this acquaintance with him.

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

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.

Chaudhry, who was once one of the close aides of Khan, claimed that the PTI founder had close ties with the billionaire-turned-politician and his family. He went on to add that the US Congress has “restored its legal position” on the basic human rights situation in Pakistan. “Now only the US president’s office has to affect it. Biden did not do it. I hope Trump will do.”

According to the former PTI leader, Pakistan has to reassess its position in the region as it was “very low” after the end of the USSR and the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

He claimed that Khan would make it relevant after coming out. “Trump cannot ignore the domestic pressure, which includes Pakistani diaspora. The place from where he was elected.”

When asked about the Foreign Office spokesperson statement, Chaudhry claimed that history tells that the US has played a role in bringing former dictator Ayub Khan to power, in the Bhutto-Zia conflict, and in bringing Benazir Bhutto back to Pakistan. “I think Pakistani diaspora is influential that they will influence him to talk and Trump is someone who will talk.”

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While speaking about the alleged conspiracy against the former prime minister, he claimed that some Republicans were stating that Joe Biden played a role in the ouster of Khan. “I think that it will be an added advantage or pressure to undo the wrong done by Biden.”

In response to a query, he said that the PTI founder’s close ties with the billionaire-turned-politician did not go well with Biden. He added that the US president did not bother to call the former PM after the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

He lamented that some of the ministers were making anti-Trump comments, saying that the US embassy notes every development for future negotiations.