A US congressman from South Carolina, Joe Wilson, made things a bit complicated for PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the West by claiming that he supported Russian President Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping- two biggest rivals of the United States. Wilson gave his “free Imran Khan’ speech on the floor of the House.

The congressman shared his speech on his X handle. His call for the release of Imran Khan was welcomed by PTI supporters, many of whom struggled to explain to Wilson and the broader Western audience that Khan was not close to China.

Domestically in Pakistan, Khan may win more support from people if he is accused of siding with Russia and China. In fact, in 2022 when Imran Khan was ousted in a no-trust vote, he and his supporters claimed that the move was somehow linked to his Moscow visit that came on the eve of Russian incursion of Ukraine. There were claims that the United States was behind Khan’s removal.

But this was before Trump won the US presidential election. Now, PTI supporters hope Washington will press for Imran Khan’s release.

Joe Wilson tried to strike the cord with the Trump administration, drawing a parallel between Trump and Khan.

He said, “There are strong disagreements with Mr. Khan, including his weak policies toward war criminal Putin and the Chinese Communist Party. But political opponents should be defeated in the democratic elections and not jailed or fabricated political charges.

“President Donald Trump survived a corrupt judicial system and has been persecuting him. And he knows the danger of persecution. Pakistan should release Imran Khan, restoring democracy. Free Imran Khan!”

Wilson claimed the Pakistani military had jailed Imran Khan.

But what could be seen as his preposterous claim came when he said Washington-Islamabad relations were the strongest when Pakistan was under democratic rule. “Pakistan is an appreciated partner for 70 years of the United States, and our relationship with them is strongest when Pakistan embraces democratic principles and rule of law.”

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Historically, the United States has supported leaders like Ayub Khan, Ziaul Haq and Mushraff during their years of rule in the country.

Wilson also drew a parallel between the situation Trump once faced and what Imran Khan continues to face.

Joe Wilson got only one minute on the floor and read from a written statement. As he spoke, photographs of Russian, Chinese, North Korean and Iranian leaders were displayed on a stand next to him.

Earlier this month, Wilson wrote a letter to President Asif Ali Zardari, PM Shehbaz Sharif, and COAS Gen Asim Munir calling for the release of Imran Khan, which he said, “would be a major step towards strengthening U.S. Pakistan relations.”