Former Pakistani PM's sons voice alarm over father’s condition amid prison isolation

The sons of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan have raised grave concerns that authorities may be concealing “something irreversible” regarding his condition, as they have had no confirmation of his well-being for over three weeks, a family member said.

As court-ordered prison visits stay blocked and rumors swirl about possible prison transfers, his son, Kasim Khan, told Reuters the family has had no direct or verifiable contact with Khan, despite a judicial order for weekly meetings.

"Not knowing whether your father is safe, injured or even alive is a form of psychological torture," he said in written remarks, adding that there had been no independently confirmed communication for a couple of months.

"Today we have no verifiable information at all about his condition," the son added. "Our greatest fear is that something irreversible is being hidden from us."

The family has repeatedly sought access for Khan's personal physician, who has not been allowed to examine him for more than a year, he added.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior did not respond to requests for comment. A prison official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that Khan is in good health and that they are unaware of any plans to transfer him to a higher-security facility.

Khan, 72, has been incarcerated since August 2023 following a series of convictions that he asserts are politically motivated after his ouster from power in 2022. His first conviction involved allegations that he illegally sold gifts received while in office, in the widely reported Toshakhana case.

Subsequent rulings have imposed lengthy prison terms, including 10 years for disclosing a diplomatic cable and 14 years in a separate corruption case. Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), maintains that these prosecutions are intended to bar him from public life and prevent his participation in future elections.

The ongoing isolation of Khan, coupled with the family’s inability to obtain independent verification of his health, has intensified concerns about his treatment in custody and sparked calls for adherence to court-mandated visits and international attention to his case.

By Vafa Guliyeva