The son of former Pakistani Prime Minister and cricket legend Imran Khan has raised alarms, stating that his father has not been seen or heard from since August. Sulaiman Khan expressed growing concerns for his father's well-being, who is currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, serving a 14-year sentence for corruption and bribery convictions.
Khan, 74, who denies all accusations, has reportedly been held in a solitary confinement cell measuring 6ft by 8ft and denied court-ordered medical care. Lawyers representing Khan have characterized his conditions as "amounting to torture," with his health reportedly deteriorating. He is said to have lost 85% of his vision in his right eye due to a blood clot and has been diagnosed with high blood pressure.
Sulaiman Khan, from his father's first marriage to British heiress Jemima Goldsmith, voiced fears on social media that his father is being targeted. "No one has seen or heard from my father since August, when he explicitly said that he was being tortured and that the regime was trying to kill him like Egypt's government did Morsi," Sulaiman stated. He added that the UN Special Rapporteur on torture has repeatedly noted Khan's treatment as such.
According to Sulaiman, Pakistan's government, led by Army Chief Asim Munir, is ignoring a Supreme Court order from August for Khan to receive treatment at Shifa International Hospital and to have regular access to family and legal visits. Sulaiman believes the authorities fear his father due to his significant popularity in Pakistan and are attempting to eliminate him politically.
Sulaiman Khan has previously accused Pakistan's army chief and the current government of harboring a "personal vendetta" against his father. He suggested that any government legitimizing the current regime would be complicit in any negative outcome for his father and the resulting regional instability. He also criticized foreign governments engaging with Pakistan, stating they cannot claim to uphold democratic values or human rights.
Khan's sons, who were advised by former Foreign Minister David Lammy against traveling to Pakistan due to concerns for their safety, have publicly criticized the British government for not intervening. Jemima Goldsmith has supported her son's statements, noting on social media that he was "forced on to social media & into politics by this venal Pakistani regime."
Last month, Khan's other son, Kasim, 27, told Times Radio that he feared his father would be assassinated, citing the deaths of multiple prisoners from hepatitis in the jail due to poor conditions. He suggested that authorities might then attribute his father's death to natural causes should he contract a similar disease. Kasim also expressed concerns that without international support, Pakistani authorities hold complete power and can act unpredictably.
The brothers have previously described their father's living quarters as a "death cell" with "filthy water" and complete isolation, allowing him only one hour outside his cell per day. Their last contact with their father was a phone call months ago. Khan has complained of high blood pressure, heart palpitations, and anxiety to his sister during a brief visit.
In August, a Sky Sports interview with Khan's sons prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to threaten abandoning a match. The PCB, described as heavily politicized, has denied mistreating Khan or restricting visits from family and lawyers. In February, 14 international cricketers, including former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, signed an open letter advocating for better treatment for Khan.
Imran Khan, a celebrated cricketer who led Pakistan to World Cup victory in 1992, served as Prime Minister from 2018 until his removal in a no-confidence vote in 2022. He fell out with the military establishment, a key power broker in Pakistan. His supporters have held numerous protests demanding his release since his arrest in May 2023.