The sons of Pakistan’s imprisoned ex-PM Imran Khan worry authorities are hiding “something irreversible” about his state after over three weeks with no proof of life, according to one son.
Despite a court order for weekly visits, the family remains cut off, said Kasim Khan to Reuters, amidst rumors of possible prison relocations.
“Not knowing if your father is safe, hurt, or even alive is psychological torture,” he wrote, noting the absence of verified communication for months.
“We have no verifiable info on his condition,” Kasim added. “Our biggest fear is something irreversible being concealed.”
The family repeatedly requested access for Khan’s personal doctor, who has been barred from seeing him for over a year.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. — Reuters file
Pakistan’s interior ministry didn’t comment. An anonymous jail official told Reuters Khan is in good health and unaware of any higher-security move plans.
Khan, 72, has been jailed since August 2023, convicted in politically charged cases following his 2022 ouster.
His first conviction involved unlawfully selling gifts, known as the Toshakhana case.
Subsequent verdicts included a 10-year term for leaking a diplomatic cable and 14 years in a graft case linked to the Al Qadir Trust.
Khan’s PTI party claims these prosecutions aim to remove him from public life and elections.
FAMILY ANXIETY GROWS WITH LACK OF INFORMATION
The family believes lack of communication is part of a plan to isolate Khan from public view.
TV channels are barred from showing Khan’s name or image, leaving a lone court photo online since his arrest.
“This isolation is intentional,” Kasim said, blaming authorities for cutting off his father. “He’s Pakistan’s most popular leader; they can’t defeat him democratically.”
Kasim and his brother Suleiman Isa Khan, in London with their mother Jemima Goldsmith, steer clear of Pakistan’s dynastic politics.
The brothers, who call him “Abba,” rarely speak publicly, focusing on Khan’s imprisonment.
Kasim noted the last visit with their father was in November 2022 after he survived an assassination attempt.
“That image haunts me. Seeing our father then is unforgettable,” Kasim said.
“We were assured he’d recover. Now, after weeks of silence and no life proof, that memory weighs heavier.”
The family is pursuing domestic and international channels, including human rights appeals, seeking restored court-ordered access.
“This isn’t just political,” Kasim stated. “It’s a human rights crisis. Global pressure is essential. We draw strength from him, but need assurance of his safety.”
