Fact check: Did Kasim Khan really call for Pakistan’s GSP+ status to be revoked?

LAHORE: Claims that Kasim Khan, son of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, called for revoking Pakistan’s GSP+ trade privileges circulated widely online after his recent address at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). However, multiple sources and Kasim himself clarified that he made no such demand.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kasim stated: “Today, I had the honour of speaking to the 47 countries that comprise the @UN #HumanRightsCouncil urging the immediate release of my father @imrankhanpti and all #Pakistan’s #politicalprisoners. Along with this, I want to be very clear. Like my father, I fully support maintaining GSP+ as the people of #Pakistan should never be punished for the actions of its leaders. But the Pakistani regime must also fully comply with the 27 treaties it committed to follow to obtain this benefit, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Convention Against Torture.”

The confusion appears to have stemmed from a short video clip of Kasim’s remarks, which went viral online.

Legal expert Reema Omer, advisor at the International Commission of Jurists, clarified on X that the clip “is not from a ‘conference to revoke Pakistan’s GSP+ status.’ It is from the General Debate under Item 9 of the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council. Kasim Khan speaks about rising intolerance and political persecution in Pakistan… GSP+ isn’t mentioned.”

During his address, Kasim highlighted human rights concerns in Pakistan, including the treatment of his father Imran Khan. He described Imran Khan’s detention as arbitrary, involving solitary confinement, restrictions on family visits, and denial of medical care. He characterized these issues as part of a broader pattern of political repression since 2022, citing political detentions, military trials of civilians, and journalists being silenced, abducted, or driven into exile. He also referenced alleged irregularities in the February 2024 general elections.

While Kasim did mention Pakistan’s commitments under the GSP+ framework to uphold international conventions, observers note that this was in the context of urging the government to comply with human rights treaties, not to revoke the trade status.

Despite these clarifications, some social media users misinterpreted his comments as an attempt to leverage Pakistan’s GSP+ privileges against the government.

One post read, “The ultimate nepo-baby pivot: trading the livelihoods of 240 million people for one very expensive family reunion,” while another commented, “Pakistan isn’t a perfect country, but we don’t need foreigners nitpicking and twisting facts.”

The incident underscores the speed at which short clips can circulate online and create misleading narratives, prompting officials and the speaker himself to issue immediate clarifications.