Sons of Jailed Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan Fear for His Health and Cite Solitary Confinement

Imran Khan's sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, have expressed deep concern that their father's health is deteriorating in prison, alleging he has been subjected to mental torture—a claim that the government of Pakistan has strongly denied.

Sulaiman, 29, and Kasim, 27, stated they have not heard the voice of their father, the imprisoned former prime minister of Pakistan and cricket legend, in nearly six months. Their last conversation occurred over Eid al-Fitr in March during a brief 20-minute phone call. Kasim noted that while Imran Khan frantically asks about their lives, he quickly shuts down questions regarding his own well-being.

Now 73 years old, Imran Khan has spent three years imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. Following his ouster in a 2022 vote of no confidence, he has faced more than 100 legal cases, including charges of bribery, leaking state secrets, and illegally selling state gifts, all of which he denies. Although most convictions have been suspended or overturned, appeals are still pending.

Family members and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party maintain that the charges are politically motivated. Two of his sisters, Uzma and Noreen, recently visited him and were disturbed by his agitated state. Sulaiman stated that his father has experienced mental torture through solitary confinement, while Kasim added that severe anxiety has caused his heart rate to spike and led to palpitations.

Previously, Khan’s lawyers reported in February that he had lost 85 percent of the vision in his right eye. Sulaiman mentioned that he was still wearing an eye patch during his recent visit from his sisters, despite earlier court orders permitting regular access.

In response to the family's allegations, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a statement rejecting claims that Imran Khan has been denied appropriate medical care or that the government ignored Supreme Court directions. The ministry emphasized that health matters should not be politicized and that the government has never adopted a disrespectful attitude toward anyone's health.

On August 18, a three-judge Supreme Court bench ruled that Imran Khan should be moved to the private Shifa International Hospital, granted weekly family visits, and allowed twice-weekly calls with his sons, alongside participation from his personal physician and sister in his medical care. However, after a cardiac review found fluctuating blood pressure and anxiety, he was taken to a government hospital, PIMS, for a brief check-up before returning to jail on August 20, prompting a contempt petition from his party.

Sulaiman questioned the motives behind the medical assessments, asking what the authorities are hiding, while Kasim expressed frustration that the establishment holds absolute power and renders Supreme Court efforts ineffective.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting maintained that reports of poor health are unsupported by prison or medical records, noting that Imran Khan has undergone 30 medical examinations alongside regular checks by the prison doctor. They described him as oriented, stable, and without acute deterioration.

International support for Imran Khan's release has come from the United Nations, Amnesty International, politicians in Washington and London, and 21 former cricket captains. His ex-wife, Jemima Goldsmith, has appealed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband for assistance, describing his detention as a human rights emergency.

Conversely, the Pakistani ministry defended the prison conditions as humane, asserting that he has received numerous visits and proper accommodations, meals, and medical attention, while clarifying that prisoner access cannot be utilized as a platform for unrestricted political communication.

Concluding his remarks, Kasim held the government responsible for his father's deteriorating health, questioning the humanity of denying basic health checks, books, phone calls, and keeping him isolated for 23 hours a day. Despite the brutal conditions, Kasim remains hopeful in his father's enduring resilience.