The family of Pakistan's imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan have issued urgent demands to see him following weeks of denied access and mounting concerns about his wellbeing in Adiala jail.
Growing Family Concerns
Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 while serving a 14-year sentence for corruption charges that he maintains were fabricated to remove him from politics. His sisters - Noreen Niazi, Aleema Khan and Dr Uzma Khan - have faced repeated rejections when attempting to visit him in recent weeks, intensifying their worries about his health condition.
The situation escalated when unverified rumours about Khan's death began circulating on social media platforms. The hashtag 'Where is Imran Khan?' trended on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday morning as supporters and family members expressed alarm that nobody had seen the former prime minister for several weeks.
Official Statements and Denials
Zulfikar Bukhari, spokesperson for Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, confirmed that no one has seen Khan since November 4, with no explanation provided for the suspended meetings. 'His health is our concern. We are worried about his illegal isolation,' Bukhari stated, emphasising that Khan was being denied both visits and necessary medical support despite his status as a former national leader.
The PTI party issued a formal statement on X condemning what they described as 'despicable' rumours about Khan's whereabouts. They demanded that the current government and interior ministry 'immediately and clearly dismiss and clarify the rumour and immediately arrange a meeting between Imran and his family'. The party further called for a 'formal and transparent statement regarding the health, security and current status of Imran'.
Family Confrontations and International Attention
Khan's family and party supporters have staged protests outside the Rawalpindi prison in recent days, demanding access to the former leader. His sisters claimed they were 'brutally' assaulted during one such demonstration when seeking to visit their brother.
This isn't the first time Khan has faced isolation from his relatives. Last year, his British ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith publicly condemned Pakistani authorities for preventing family visits and blocking communication with their two sons in London. She detailed concerning conditions including electricity cuts to his cell and restrictions on outdoor time.
Despite prison regulations permitting weekly meetings, jail authorities have suspended access for extended periods. Local media reports suggest the 73-year-old former international cricketer might be transferred to a high-security facility to further complicate family access, though a prison official speaking anonymously to Reuters denied any relocation plans and stated Khan remained in good health.
Khan's political journey saw him elected as prime minister in 2018 before being ousted in 2022 after losing support from military leaders. His arrest in May 2023 triggered nationwide protests and a significant crackdown on his party. Despite imprisonment, Khan remains a influential political figure, with his party emerging as the largest in the 2024 elections, though they allege electoral rigging prevented them from forming a government.
