WEB DESK: In a rare public appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Sulaiman Isa Khan and Kasim Khan, the sons of former prime minister Imran Khan, have raised alarm over their father’s prolonged imprisonment, alleging degrading conditions and political persecution, while expressing fears for his life. Their mother and Khan’s former wife Jemima Goldsmith also thanked Morgan for giving space to her sons.
Speaking to the British journalist Piers Morgan in the interview, the brothers, aged 28 and 26, painted a grim picture of Khan’s incarceration, describing it as “brutal” and “desperate,” and accusing Pakistani authorities of using isolation and deprivation as deliberate tactics to break his spirit.
Khan, currently serving a 14-year sentence on corruption charges he has consistently denied, has been held for nearly two years. His wife, Bushra Bibi, is also serving a seven-year sentence, with reports suggesting she is “gravely unwell.” Both have maintained their innocence, and their family and supporters continue to describe the charges as politically motivated.
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The brothers, who have remained largely out of the public eye, said they were speaking out now because the situation has become untenable.
“We barely spoke to him once every two or three months. Even that’s been taken away now. Since our last interview, we haven’t spoken to him at all,” said Sulaiman.
According to them, the former premier is being kept in a small cell for 22 hours a day, denied access to basic hygiene, personal reading material, and proper medical care. “There have been 10 deaths in that prison from hepatitis C. He washes with visibly murky water. It’s not just unfiltered, it’s discoloured,” Suleman said.
Khan, 71, survived an assassination attempt in 2022, an incident that his family says still haunts them. “That was the last time we saw him,” said Kasim, recalling the shooting. “He’s lost weight. There’s no fan, no air conditioning, and this is in 40°C heat. He’s vulnerable.”
The sons accused the Pakistani authorities of employing torture tactics such as cutting off electricity and denying sunlight, calling the situation a clear violation of human rights.
Visa and arrest concerns
When asked whether they were prepared to return to Pakistan despite possible arrest, both said they were willing to take the risk. “We just want to see him. It’s been too long,” said Kasim. The brothers revealed they had applied for visas to visit, but had not received a response and were warned by government-linked individuals that they might be detained upon arrival.
The interview also included an appeal to world leaders, particularly Donald Trump, whom the brothers said shared a “mutual respect” with their father. “If anyone can make a difference, he can,” said Kasim.
They also urged British authorities to take note. “We haven’t been able to speak directly to Prime Minister Keir Starmer or Foreign Secretary David Lammy, but we’re hoping to,” said Sulaiman. “This isn’t just a human rights issue. It’s a democratic one. The people of Pakistan voted for him.”
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Calling the February 2024 general election “heavily rigged,” the brothers reiterated their father’s popularity and framed his incarceration as part of a wider effort to suppress political dissent under what they described as a virtual dictatorship
The interview ended on an emotional note. “It’s painful speaking about this,” said Kasim. “But if it helps even a little, it’s the least we can do.”
Imran Khan’s political party, PTI, maintains that he remains the most popular leader in the country and continues to demand his release and a fair trial. Pakistani authorities, meanwhile, have yet to respond to the fresh allegations made by Khan’s sons in the interview.