In a rare and emotionally charged interview, Suleman and Qasim Khan (sons of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan) have broken their silence to shed light on their father’s harrowing imprisonment conditions. Speaking to social media influencer Mario Nawfal, the brothers expressed deep concern over their father’s inhumane treatment in custody in a ‘death cell’ typically reserved for terrorists.
Expressing frustration over the lack of progress through legal avenues, Qasim stated, “We’ve gone through every route that we thought would potentially get him out… It’s only getting worse.” The brothers are now calling for international pressure to secure their father’s release, emphasising the need for global attention to the alleged human rights violations.
A Plea for International Intervention
The interview marked the first public appearance of Suleman and Qasim Khan regarding their father’s incarceration. They revealed that despite a court order in November 2023 allowing weekly contact, they have only managed to speak with their father once every two or three months, often at odd hours and for limited durations.
The PTI has frequently complained about Imran’s facilities and has filed several petitions in the Islamabad High Court regarding the issue. On the other hand, the jail administration has refuted the claims.
However, the Islamabad High Court has intervened and has directed the authorities to allow Khan to speak with his sons and has granted him access to his personal physician. But such interventions are often undermined or ignored by jail authorities, suggesting a deeper rot in the chain of command and an erosion of judicial authority.
Moreover, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has deemed Khan’s imprisonment a violation of international law, calling for his immediate release. Yet, even such global condemnation seems to fall on deaf ears domestically.
Solitary Confinement and Isolation
Imran Khan, detained since August 2023, has been held in Adiala Jail under charges including corruption and violations of the Anti-Terrorism Act. In a previous interview, Khan described his cell as a 7ft by 8ft space, under constant surveillance and devoid of basic human rights such as visitation and communication with the outside world.
Further compounding concerns, Khan’s ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith also reported that since September 10, 2024, all visits have been halted and weekly phone calls to their sons have been discontinued. She also alleged that electricity in his cell has been cut off, leaving him in complete darkness and isolation.
Read More: Imran Khan Agrees to PM Shehbaz’s Invitation for Dialogue
A ‘Death Cell’ for a Political Prisoner?
Khan himself, in a rare interview earlier this year, described his detention as akin to being in a “death cell for terrorists.” It’s a chilling phrase, and one that has sparked outrage among his supporters and alarm among international observers.
His sons support this characterisation, describing the conditions as “designed to break him.” “He’s being mentally tortured,” Suleman said. “If this were happening anywhere else in the world, there would be an uproar. But the silence is deafening.”
One cannot help but ask: Is this justice or vengeance masquerading as due process?
More than a Political Battle
Imran Khan’s incarceration first began as a political manoeuvre, but it is rapidly evolving into a moral crisis. His sons plea is not just for their father’s freedom, but for the restoration of justice in Pakistan.
And if the world continues to look away, it won’t just be Imran Khan left in the darkness — it will be the ideals of democracy and justice themselves.
