Kasim Khan, the son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, asserted that his father is being held in a “death cell with no transparency.” This statement comes despite Islamabad denying allegations that the cricketer-turned-politician was “brutally” attacked by police while attempting to arrange a meeting with his brother last week. Kasim Khan mentioned that there has been “no communication, no meetings, and no evidence of life. My brother and I have not been able to reach our father.” He accused the former prime minister, who has been detained for 845 days, of being in solitary confinement for the last six weeks. Additionally, he stated that Khan’s sisters have been refused permission to see him, even though court orders permit such visits. Kasim further claimed that the government led by Shehbaz Sharif and its associates will face accountability “legally, morally, and internationally.” He called on the international community to “act swiftly” and demand proof of life. My father has been in custody for 845 days. For the last six weeks, he has been isolated in a death cell with no transparency. His sisters have been denied all visits, despite clear court orders that allow them access.
Previously, Noreen Niazi, the sister of Imran Khan, accused the Pakistani authorities of subjecting the former prime minister to severe prison conditions and severing all family communication, asserting that “no one knows what is occurring inside the jail.” In an interview with ANI regarding her most recent encounter with the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), she stated, “…He is enduring a difficult time in solitude. He is in isolation… According to the prison regulations, an individual cannot be placed in isolation for more than four days. However, he was isolated for three weeks last year, during which the electricity was turned off, and he was not permitted to read books. The same situation has arisen now.” Her accusations arise amidst increasing concerns about Khan’s health and the month-long suspension of family and legal visits. “We are unaware of anything. They are not providing us with any information, nor are they allowing anyone to visit him,” she remarked, adding that even PTI members with scheduled meetings were barred from entry. “We have not been permitted to see him for the past four weeks… The police have been instructed to prevent us, and I believe they have also been authorized to act against us as they wish. This has never occurred in Pakistan before,” she stated. Niazi characterized the treatment of supporters and family members outside Adiala Jail as unprecedented. “No one has ever shown such disrespect towards women, nor has anyone been oppressed in this manner. This is the first instance in Pakistan where individuals have been allowed to assault others without fear of repercussions, regardless of whether the person is a child, an elderly individual, or a woman. The world is aware of the situation in Pakistan.” She referred to the current circumstances as Pakistan’s “darkest period,” likening it to “Hitler-era-like oppression,” and claimed that individuals are being “killed, beaten, and imprisoned without accountability.” She contended that the ongoing prohibition on visiting Khan was deliberate. “We have been going there for the past four weeks, and they are not allowing us to meet him.” This is the reason these rumours are proliferating. Cautioning about increasing frustration, she stated that public discontent is approaching a critical threshold. “I am convinced that a catalyst will emerge among the populace shortly, and then they will witness the extent to which the people will react… The oppression has become excessive.”
Expressing no expectations from the global community, she stated: “… We receive such support from abroad that Trump referred to our dictator Asim Munir as a very good friend of his… Shehbaz Sharif had lost his position. Asim Munir assisted him in winning, thus he is the more significant force… Dictators have existed before. Their outcomes were not favorable either. However, how long can these individuals endure, or how long can they persist in their oppression?” ‘There is nothing wrong with him’ Meanwhile, the adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, along with senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), on Thursday dismissed rumors regarding former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s declining health, asserting that the PTI founder was “well and nothing is wrong with him,” as reported by Pakistan daily Dawn News. Earlier that day, the PTI called for a meeting with the imprisoned leader, voicing concerns over his well-being after he was denied access to his family and legal representatives for over three weeks. Imran has been incarcerated since August 2023, serving a 14-year sentence in a corruption case.
In recent days, his family members and party activists have been conducting protests outside Adiala Jail, insisting that he be granted visitors. A PTI delegation made another attempt to meet with him on Thursday; however, the authorities denied permission.
