Key facts
- Imran Khan's sons accuse Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir of a personal vendetta against their father.
- Khan's sons fear their father is being "slowly killed" in jail due to harsh conditions.
- Khan is reportedly held in solitary confinement in a 6ft by 8ft cell.
- Khan has been denied family visits and contact for over six months.
- Khan has a worsening eye condition, with one eye potentially losing sight.
- The Pakistan government denies allegations of punitive solitary confinement or cruelty.
The sons of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan have accused the country's army chief, Asim Munir, of orchestrating a personal vendetta against their imprisoned father. Kasim and Sulaiman Khan expressed fears that Imran Khan is being "slowly killed" in jail due to harsh conditions, including solitary confinement and denial of adequate medical care and family contact.
Kasim Khan, 27, and Sulaiman Khan, 29, have become vocal advocates for their father, who has been held in Adiala prison since his arrest in 2023 and is serving a 14-year sentence on corruption charges. They have been prevented from traveling from the UK to Pakistan to lobby for his release and have not been allowed to speak to their father for over six months.
The Supreme Court is set to rule on a case alleging the Pakistan government has been in contempt of court by denying Khan private hospital treatment for a worsening eye condition and preventing family visits or communication, in violation of a court order. Khan is reportedly held in solitary confinement in a small cell, with his sons describing it as "a form of mental and physical torture." They claim he has been denied new books and access to a neutral doctor, and that his eye condition has led to significant vision loss in one eye.
Late last month, Sky Sports aired an interview with Kasim and Sulaiman during its coverage of a cricket match between England and Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board lodged a formal complaint with Sky Sports, and the Pakistani team reportedly threatened to refuse to return to the field. Sulaiman described the complaint as evidence of an "authoritarian regime."
The UN has stated that Khan's prolonged detention violates international law, and the UN's special rapporteur on torture has indicated that his solitary confinement and detention conditions could amount to psychological torture. Sulaiman also mentioned that his father, 73, has been diagnosed with high blood pressure.