Imprisoned former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan is being held in what his son Kasim Khan has described as “really poor conditions” that are rapidly deteriorating. Speaking in an interview with US media outlet Real America’s Voice, Kasim said that his father’s confinement at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi amounts to near-solitary incarceration under inhumane circumstances.
He alleged that Imran Khan is forced to shower with muddy water, has limited access to daylight, and endures long stretches without electricity or contact with the outside world. According to Kasim, the conditions have even led to the deaths of other inmates, and he fears the situation could worsen further. “There were moments … he went 10 days without any light in his cell,” Kasim said, calling it a “torture tactic.” He also claimed that his father receives only two hours of sunlight a day and that communication with him is non-existent.
Kasim, along with his brother Sulaiman, has begun taking public steps to rally international attention for their father’s release. They recently visited the United States and engaged with lawmakers and political figures to raise awareness. Kasim revealed that the brothers had met with Richard Grenell, a close aide to former US president Donald Trump, and expressed optimism about potential support from American political circles. “We spoke at length and I don’t want to get into details but I’m very, very hopeful from that,” he said.
Imran Khan has been in jail since August 2023 following his conviction in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case and continues to face multiple trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act, including for his alleged role in the May 9 protests. Despite his incarceration, Kasim stated that Imran managed to win the February 2024 general elections, even though the elections were marred by what he called “vicious rigging” and underhanded tactics.
Meanwhile, Imran’s sister Aleema Khan confirmed that both Kasim and Sulaiman possess National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPs) and are therefore legally recognized as citizens of Pakistan. She emphasized that the brothers plan to return to Pakistan, and any harm to them would carry international repercussions. “If anything were to happen to Imran’s sons, it would become an international matter,” she stated.
Responding to speculation and media reports suggesting that Imran Khan had told visitors at Adiala Jail that his sons would not be coming to Pakistan or leading any protests, PTI Central Information Secretary Waqas Akram categorically denied such claims. He asserted that Imran Khan had never barred his sons from returning and criticized certain journalists for misreporting or misrepresenting his statements. “It is inappropriate to take things out of context, selectively, or to present conversations according to their own wishes,” Akram said.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also weighed in on the matter, stating that the government has no intention of stopping Imran Khan’s sons from entering Pakistan. However, he warned that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party would not be allowed to engage in any disruptive actions similar to the events of May 9 or November 26.
