Today, Pakistan needs that same foresight, courage, and balanced judgment. The world expects a responsible, peace-loving Pakistan, and Pakistan needs leadership that carries the trust of its people. Imran Khan must be released immediately, because only a leader with a public mandate can make the right and courageous decisions in difficult times. That is the national interest, and that is the need of the hour.
Today’s military strikes on Iran — carried out by the United States and Israel — mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression. Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war. Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change. They want relief from the affordability crisis. They want peace.
I am focused on making sure that every New Yorker is safe. I have been in contact with our Police Commissioner and emergency management officials. We are taking proactive steps, including increasing coordination across agencies and enhancing patrols of sensitive locations out of an abundance of caution.
Additionally, I want to speak directly to Iranian New Yorkers: you are part of the fabric of this city — you are our neighbors, small business owners, students, artists, workers, and community leaders. You will be safe here.
Our demand has been clear from the beginning: Imran Khan has to be examined and treated by specialist doctors in the presence of his personal doctor (Dr. Asim Yousaf) along with a family member present at Shifa International in Islamabad.
The Govt rejected the specialist recommended by our doctors, so they were provided with alternative names. We had given Dr. Uzma Khan’s name to represent our family. We were told that Imran Khan’s sisters will not be permitted and we must provide an alternative name to represent the family. We then gave them our cousin Dr. Nausherwan Burki’s name to represent the family. We are very disturbed when they rejected his name as well.
This is unacceptable! Our concerns are growing as to WHY are they rejecting our family member to be present? Are both names (Dr. Uzma and Dr. Nausherwan) being rejected because they are highly qualified doctors?