Sons of Pakistan’s Jailed Imran Khan Express Deep Concerns Over His Well-Being

Karachi, Dec 1 – The sons of Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan have raised urgent concerns over their father’s safety and health, claiming that authorities may be hiding “something irreversible” following more than three weeks without any verifiable proof of life. The statements from Khan’s family have reignited debate over transparency in Pakistan’s prison system, the treatment of political detainees, and the broader implications for the nation’s fragile democratic stability.

Family Raises Alarm Over Lack of Contact

In a public statement, Kasim Khan, one of Khan’s two sons, said the family has been denied all forms of verified contact with their father despite a court mandate allowing weekly visits. “Not knowing whether your father is safe, injured, or even alive is a form of psychological torture,” he remarked. Kasim added that the family has received no independently confirmed communication for months.

Their growing anxiety has led to renewed demands for immediate access to Imran Khan’s personal physician, who has reportedly been barred from visiting him in prison for over a year. “Our greatest fear is that something irreversible is being hidden from us,” Kasim said. The family stressed that the lack of transparency surrounding Khan’s condition is causing immense psychological distress and fueling speculation about his treatment behind bars.

Pakistan’s interior ministry has not issued an official comment on the matter. However, a senior prison official speaking anonymously claimed that Khan “remains in good health” and dismissed any suggestion of a transfer to a higher-security facility. The official added that security restrictions and “ongoing legal sensitivities” have limited visitation but maintained that the former prime minister is “being treated according to law.”

Imran Khan’s Detention and Legal Battles

Khan, now 72, has been imprisoned since August 2023 following a series of convictions stemming from multiple high-profile cases. The first, known as the Toshakhana case, centered on allegations of unlawfully selling official gifts received during his tenure as prime minister. Additional sentences followed — including a 10-year prison term linked to the alleged leaking of a diplomatic cable, and a 14-year sentence related to financial irregularities in the Al-Qadir Trust charity project.

Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have consistently denied all charges, describing them as politically motivated moves aimed at sidelining him from the political arena. His allies claim that Khan’s legal troubles began after his ouster in April 2022, when a parliamentary no-confidence vote abruptly ended his government.

Political analysts note that such prosecutions against former leaders have a long precedent in Pakistan’s volatile political landscape. Former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto both faced detentions and legal cases under similar circumstances, often during transitions of power or military influence. This recurring pattern, many argue, illustrates the enduring struggle between civilian governance and institutional power structures in Pakistan.

Isolation Deepens Questions Around Health

The opacity surrounding Khan’s imprisonment has attracted mounting criticism from rights organizations. The family’s statement suggests that state authorities have deliberately limited not only physical visits but also media access to Khan. Since his incarceration, media outlets have been barred from broadcasting his images. The only recent photo, purportedly taken during a court appearance earlier this year, shows a visibly aged Khan sitting behind glass — the image quickly went viral amid speculation over his well-being.

“This isolation is intentional,” Kasim asserted during a recent interview. “They are scared of him. He is Pakistan’s most popular leader, and they know they cannot defeat him democratically.”

Living in London with their mother, British filmmaker Jemima Goldsmith, Kasim and his brother Suleiman Isa Khan have generally avoided direct involvement in their father’s political affairs. They last saw him in November 2022, following an assassination attempt at a campaign rally that left Khan with a gunshot wound to the leg. “That image has stayed with me ever since,” Kasim recalled. “Seeing our father in that state is something you don’t forget. Now, with no word at all, that memory weighs even heavier.”

Human Rights Concerns and Legal Appeals

The family’s fears have reached international ears, with calls for independent medical evaluation and transparent reporting on Khan’s status echoing from several human rights advocates. Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission has appealed for clarity, emphasizing that under both national and international law, detainees have a right to family contact and legal defense access.

According to the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (known as the Nelson Mandela Rules), inmates must be allowed to maintain contact with family and legal counsel and be granted access to medical care. The prolonged restriction in Khan’s case, rights groups argue, may constitute a violation of these protections.

Khan’s legal team has filed petitions seeking enforcement of visitation rights and immediate access to private medical evaluation. Lawyers contend that the government’s refusal undermines judicial authority and could be part of a broader effort to suppress information ahead of the country’s next general election.

Political Ramifications and Public Reaction

Imran Khan remains one of Pakistan’s most polarizing and influential figures. His avid supporters view him as a reformer who sought to challenge entrenched political and military elites, while critics see him as a populist whose clashes with institutions destabilized governance.

Despite his imprisonment, Khan’s party continues to draw significant public support, especially among younger and urban voters. Protests have periodically erupted across cities like Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar, with demonstrators demanding transparency about Khan’s condition and accusing authorities of orchestrating a political witch hunt.

Public sentiment online has been equally charged. Social media platforms in Pakistan are flooded with hashtags calling for proof of life and urging international attention to the case. PTI leaders have amplified these demands, framing the government’s silence as evidence of a cover-up.

Regional Context: A Familiar Pattern of Political Repression

The situation reflects a broader regional trend in South Asia, where the imprisonment of high-profile political figures can reshape electoral dynamics. In neighboring Bangladesh, opposition leaders have similarly faced detention or legal challenges ahead of elections. In Sri Lanka, former officials have been pursued under corruption charges following regime changes.

Observers argue that these moves are often intended to weaken political opponents and consolidate authority rather than pursue genuine accountability. Pakistan’s history, marked by cycles of civilian and military rule, provides a backdrop that makes Khan’s case particularly sensitive.

Since gaining independence in 1947, Pakistan has seen multiple instances of deposed leaders facing jail time or exile — from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s execution in 1979 to Nawaz Sharif’s repeated disqualifications. In that context, Khan’s detention underscores a lingering pattern of political retribution that continues to challenge the country’s democratic resilience.

Calls for Transparency and Stability

Calls for transparency are mounting both domestically and internationally. Analysts warn that a prolonged information blackout on Khan’s condition could deepen political polarization and negatively affect Pakistan’s already fragile economy, which has struggled under inflationary pressures and declining foreign investment.

Business leaders and civil society groups have urged the government to prioritize stability over political score-settling, warning that investor confidence depends on perceptions of fairness and institutional credibility. The uncertainty surrounding Khan’s fate, they argue, risks further eroding international trust at a time when Pakistan seeks new economic assistance and trade support.

Looking Ahead

As Khan’s sons and supporters push for answers, legal proceedings are expected to continue in Islamabad, where judges face growing pressure to enforce visitation orders and review restrictions placed on the former premier. The outcome of these efforts will likely shape not only Khan’s immediate fate but also Pakistan’s broader political trajectory heading into a pivotal election period.

For now, the silence surrounding Imran Khan has become symbolic of a deeper national uncertainty. Whether that silence conceals routine confinement or something more severe remains unanswered—but the outcry from his family ensures that those questions will not fade quietly.