Family of Imprisoned Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan Fear for His Safety After Weeks Without Contact

Imran Khan, 72, has been in jail since August 2023 (File)

The sons of Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan expressed deep concerns that authorities might be hiding "something irreversible" regarding their father's condition, as they've had no verifiable proof of his wellbeing for over three weeks.

Kasim Khan told Reuters that despite judicial orders permitting weekly family visits, they have been consistently denied access to their father, creating a distressing situation for the family.

"Experiencing uncertainty about whether your father is safe, injured or even alive constitutes psychological torture," he stated in written comments, noting that they've had no independently verified communication for approximately two months.

"Currently we possess no verifiable information whatsoever about his condition," the son continued. "Our primary concern is that something permanent and severe is being concealed from us."

The family has repeatedly requested access for Imran Khan's personal physician, who has been prevented from examining him for more than a year.

Pakistan's interior ministry did not respond when asked for comment. A jail official, speaking anonymously, assured Reuters that Imran Khan remained in good health and denied knowledge of any plans to transfer him to a higher-security facility.

Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023, facing multiple convictions in cases he claims are politically motivated following his removal from office in a parliamentary vote in 2022.

His initial conviction involved allegations of illegally selling gifts received during his tenure as prime minister, commonly known as the Toshakhana case.

Subsequent verdicts added substantial prison sentences, including a 10-year term for allegedly leaking diplomatic communications and 14 years in a separate corruption case connected to the Al-Qadir Trust, a charitable organization that prosecutors claim was involved in improper land transactions.

Khan's political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), maintains these prosecutions aim to exclude him from public life and electoral participation.

FAMILY ANXIETY DEEPENED BY LACK OF INFORMATION

The family indicates that the communication blackout has intensified their concerns regarding what they perceive as a deliberate effort to remove Khan from public visibility.

Television networks have reportedly been instructed not to use Khan's name or image, leaving only a single grainy court photograph available online as the only glimpse of him since his incarceration.

"This isolation is deliberate," Kasim stated, referring to authorities he believes are keeping his father isolated. "They fear him. He represents Pakistan's most popular leader and they recognize they cannot defeat him through democratic means."

Kasim and his older brother Suleiman Isa Khan, who reside in London with their mother, Jemima Goldsmith, have maintained distance from Pakistan's dynastic political landscape.

The brothers, who affectionately call him "Abba," have rarely spoken publicly, primarily addressing matters related to Khan's imprisonment.

Kasim mentioned that they last saw their father in November 2022, when they visited Pakistan after he survived an assassination attempt.

"That image has remained with me since then. Witnessing our father in that condition is something unforgettable," Kasim reflected.

"We were informed he would recover with time. Now, after weeks of complete silence and no life confirmation, that memory carries greater significance."

The family is pursuing both internal and international channels, including appeals to global human rights organizations, and seeks immediate restoration of court-mandated access.

"This extends beyond political disagreement," Kasim emphasized. "It represents a human rights emergency. Pressure must be applied from all directions. We derive strength from him, but we need assurance of his safety."