The sons of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan have expressed grave concerns about their father's well-being, alleging that Pakistani authorities are attempting to assassinate him. Sulaiman and Kasim Khan claim their father, imprisoned for over three years, is being denied court-ordered medical care and subjected to conditions in Adiala Jail that resemble solitary confinement.
Their fears are compounded by the alleged neglect and poor living conditions within the prison, where Kasim Khan stated that multiple inmates have died from hepatitis. He fears his father could contract the disease, with authorities potentially attributing his death to natural causes. "He himself said that he feared that the Pakistani establishment could be looking to do to him what happened to Morsi in Egypt. He directly made that comparison. So that is our fear, definitely," Sulaiman Khan told Times Radio.
The sons are drawing comparisons to the 2019 death of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, who died in a courtroom. Human rights organizations have suggested Morsi's death was a result of abuse and neglect experienced in solitary confinement.
Imran Khan, 73, is currently serving two sentences totaling 31 years for charges including corruption, which he denies. Lawyers report that Khan's health has recently deteriorated, prompting the Supreme Court to order his transfer to a private hospital for an independent health assessment. However, he was reportedly taken to a government hospital where he was deemed fit to return to his cell, despite reportedly losing 85% of his vision in his right eye due to a blood clot.
Sulaiman and Kasim Khan have not seen their father since an alleged assassination attempt four years ago and have faced visa issues preventing them from visiting Pakistan. They have accused the British government of insufficient support and hope to discuss their concerns with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
"There’s nothing they fear more than foreign countries, foreign intervention. But as long as we go without any kind of support, then they have complete power in Pakistan, they can do absolutely anything. They’re very, very unpredictable and chaotic," the sons stated regarding Pakistani officials.
They also revealed that their father had been offered deals such as house arrest or exile, but he reportedly refused them, unwilling to be restricted in his speech or abandon his political allies who are also imprisoned. The sons have previously described his prison quarters as a "death cell" with "filthy water" and highlighted that he spends 23 hours a day in isolation, with even prison guards reportedly not allowed to communicate with him.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has previously threatened to abandon a match after Sky Sports broadcast an interview with the Khan brothers. The PCB, described as heavily politicized, has denied mistreating Khan or preventing visits from his family and lawyers.
In February, 14 international cricket figures launched a humanitarian appeal for improved treatment for Khan. Khan, a celebrated former cricketer who led Pakistan to World Cup victory in 1992, became prime minister in 2018. He was removed from power in a 2022 no-confidence vote after falling out with the military establishment. His supporters have held numerous protests demanding his release since his arrest in May 2023.