‘Democracy Not Being Allowed’: US Senate Nominee Abdul El-Sayed Tears Into Pak’s Military Rule

Last Updated:August 24, 2026, 1:05 PM IST

Speaking at a Pakistani-American event in Michigan, El-Sayed also raised concerns over former Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s imprisonment.

Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Haley Stevens in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary and will face Republican Mike Rogers in the November election.

Michigan’s Democratic nominee for the US Senate, Abdul El-Sayed, has criticised Pakistan’s powerful military establishment and called for the restoration of democratic and political freedoms in the country, in unusually sharp remarks at a Pakistani-American gathering in Michigan.

Speaking at an event organised by the Pakistan Association of America in Southfield, El-Sayed said Pakistan was being denied the space for genuine democratic rule and raised concerns over the imprisonment and intimidation of political leaders, including former prime minister Imran Khan.

“On the 79th anniversary of Pakistan, we also have to be clear that right now, democracy is not being allowed to take its place,” El-Sayed said as he addressed the gathering.

The event, attended by members of the Pakistani-American community, was held as part of celebrations marking Pakistan’s independence as well as US independence. Visuals from the gathering showed Pakistani and American flags at the venue, with El-Sayed addressing the audience from the stage.

Calls For Democracy And Human Rights In Pakistan

El-Sayed used his remarks to make a broader case for democratic governance and human rights in Pakistan, criticising the influence exercised by the military over the country’s political system.

He also referred to the treatment of political leaders and specifically cited the imprisonment of Khan while arguing that political figures should not face intimidation or incarceration for challenging those in power.

His remarks come amid continuing political tensions in Pakistan, where Khan has remained at the centre of a prolonged confrontation between his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the government and military establishment. His detention and medical treatment have also increasingly drawn scrutiny outside Pakistan.

El-Sayed’s comments are significant given his position as the Democratic nominee for the US Senate from Michigan, a state with a sizeable South Asian and Muslim-American population.

He secured the Democratic nomination earlier this month and is set to face Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election. If he defeats Rogers, he would become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.

Draws Parallel With Egypt’s Military Rule

During the address, El-Sayed drew a parallel between the political situation in Pakistan and that of Egypt, the country from which his parents immigrated to the United States.

Referring to Egypt’s history of military-dominated rule, he argued that Washington should not overlook concerns over democracy and human rights merely because a government is considered a US ally.

The comparison echoed a position El-Sayed has previously taken on Egypt. Earlier this month, he publicly criticised the lack of democracy in the country and questioned the use of US taxpayer money to support governments that restrict political freedoms.

At the Southfield gathering, he extended that argument to Pakistan, saying strategic ties with Washington should not shield an ally from scrutiny over its democratic record.

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Could Pakistan’s political situation destabilize the region?

Pakistan’s political situation, marked by internal instability, security pressures, and confrontation between political groups and the military, could lead to civil unrest and affect regional stability.

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Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations and Security Affairs, Network18

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