WASHINGTON: PTI supporters have enlisted two lobbyists in the United States to garner support from pro-democracy forces and alleviate domestic pressure.

Documents obtained by Dawn identify the consulting firm engaged on Jan 16 as LGS, LLC of 1309 Coffeen Avenue, Sheridan, WY 82801, and the client as Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FDP), an organisation located at 7207 Regency Square Blvd, Houston, Texas, TX 77036.

The lobbyists involved are Stephen Payne and Logan Somera. The agreement specifies that FDP, funded by US citizens within the Pakistani diaspora, “is not supervised, owned, directed, controlled, financed, or subsidised by a government or foreign political party”.

However, the agreement acknowledges that “FDP’s work may benefit a foreign political party as its goal is to support the interests of PTI, a political party from Pakistan”.

The document explains that the consultant shall “endeavor to assist the client in achieving the client’s goals, specifically facilitating between the United States and Pakistan in line with the objectives of the client”.

Agreement’s initial term is 45 days, but it can be renewed

The initial term of this agreement is 45 days, beginning on Jan 16 and ending on March 1, 2024, but it can be renewed. The compensation for the consultant’s work is listed as an “upfront payment of $50,000”.

The agreement identifies FDP as “a domestic corporation in the US, owned and managed by Fayaz Qureshi, a dual citizen of the United States and Pakistan”. A PTI-USA office-bearer said Dr Qureshi, a physician, enlisted the lobbying firm to raise awareness about human rights abuses in Pakistan and emphasise state oppression in the country.

This marks the third consultant the PTI and its supporters have hired in the United States. In March 2023, PTI hired Praia Consultants, LLC of Washington to support the party’s goals for “good relations with the United States and the Pakistani diaspora in the US”.

The firm was hired for a six-month period at the cost of $8,333.00 per month, and the contract has since expired.

In 2022, PTI USA, portrayed as the New York-based party of US citizens of Pakistani origin, hired another consultant, Fenton/Arlook. The firm was hired for a six-month period at $25,000 per month to manage PTI USA’s public and media relations.

In December, their contract was renewed for three months — January to March 2024 — for observing the elections in Pakistan. “The firm was re-hired for nominal charges as they are friends of Imran Khan,” a PTI spokesperson, Atif Khan, told Dawn.

The most prominent among these consultants or lobbyists is Mr Payne, who was first hired by the Musharraf government soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.

Mr Payne, a Republican lobbyist, was hired to provide “strategic consulting services in support of Pakistan’s diplomatic goals” in the United States.

The consultants later revealed that they helped Pakistan negotiate a five-year, $3 billion aid package from the United States; coordinated the removal of economic and military sanctions imposed on Pakistan under the Clinton administration; and secured Pakistan the prestigious Major Non-Nato Ally status.

After intensive coordinated efforts, Pakistan was finally able to purchase F-16 fighter jets (previously canceled under the Clinton administration) and secured the delivery of C-130.

Mr Payne assisted Turkmenistan in assembling a consortium of nations and international firms to build a natural gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan. He coordinated a trilateral summit between the presidents of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan that produced a memorandum of understanding regarding the pipeline.

In a letter dated Jan 21, 2006, former military ruler Pervez Mush­arraf thanked Payne’s Worldwide Strategies. Gen Musharraf wrote to Payne: “It gives me great pleasure to thank you for playing such an important role in strengthening US-Pakistan ties. The challenges faced by both our countries in the aftermath of September 11th brought us even closer, in which you played a pivotal role.”

Reports in the US media indicated that Mr Payne also lobbied successfully for several Middle Eastern and Central Asian leaders.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2024