The Pakistani government issued a formal clarification on Saturday, stating there is no official restriction preventing the sons of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan from visiting him. This announcement directly addresses growing concerns from the family and political allies about access to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder.
Government Denies Visitation Embargo
Interior State Minister Talal Chaudhry explicitly told reporters that no embargo exists on Suleman Khan and Kasim Khan meeting their father at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. The brothers, who reside in London and are Khan's children from his first marriage to Jemima Goldsmith, have not seen him for months.
Chaudhry emphasized that if Suleman and Kasim apply for Pakistani visas, the government will issue them. "We will not stop them from meeting their father," he stated, urging an end to what he called propaganda about the government creating hurdles in the family reunion.
Allegations of Harsh Prison Conditions
This official statement comes days after Khan's sons, in an emotional interview with Sky News, expressed fear they might never see their father again. They raised serious alarms about his safety and well-being, alleging he is subjected to "clear torture tactics."
Kasim Khan claimed his father is held in a tiny cell, measuring approximately six feet by eight inches, and is kept in near-total isolation. "They are not even allowing guards to speak to him because they want total isolation from any other person, just to try and break him," he alleged. These claims align with concerns raised by a United Nations special rapporteur about conditions potentially amounting to inhuman treatment.
Political Context and Official Rebuttals
Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023, facing multiple legal cases following his ouster from power in April 2022. Reports had suggested authorities imposed unannounced restrictions on visitors, citing concerns that some were using meetings to advance political agendas.
Minister Chaudhry also firmly rejected reports that Khan is kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day. The government's clarification aims to counter the narrative of deliberate familial separation and harsh imprisonment conditions, even as the legal and political battles surrounding the former cricket star-turned-politician continue to intensify.
