Karachi: The sons of Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan have raised grave alarms, fearing authorities are concealing “something irreversible” about his health after over three weeks without verifiable contact or proof of life. Speaking to Reuters, Kasim Khan described the blackout as “psychological torture,” noting no direct communication despite a court order for weekly family visits.
Khan, 72, has been held in Adiala Jail since August 2023 on multiple convictions—including 10 years for leaking a diplomatic cable and 14 years in a graft case tied to the Al-Qadir Trust—which his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party calls politically motivated to sideline him post-2022 ouster. His personal physician has been denied access for over a year.
Rumors of a transfer to a high-security facility and even death have swirled on social media, trending #WhereIsImranKhan, fueled by blocked visits and a media blackout on his image. Khan’s sisters were allegedly assaulted by police during a recent protest outside the jail.4524f4 An anonymous jail official insisted Khan is “in good health” with no transfer plans, while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif quipped he receives “five-star treatment.”8c7a4c
From London, Kasim and brother Suleiman—last seeing their father after a 2022 assassination attempt—urge international human rights intervention. PTI demands immediate access, calling it a “human rights emergency.”b92b2e The Interior Ministry has not commented.