Kasim Khan Fears for Father’s Life as Imran Khan Faces Alleged Prison Abuse
Kasim Khan, son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, has expressed fear for his father's life due to alleged mistreatment in prison. While the PTI party plans protests and legal challenges, the Pakistani government denies all allegations of abuse, labeling them as propaganda.
Kasim Khan, the son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, has voiced deep concern for his father’s safety, stating that he wakes up each day expecting news of his death. According to Kasim, he has not spoken to his father since March.
Imran Khan is currently serving a 14-year sentence on land corruption charges, which he claims are politically motivated and trumped-up. The family alleges that the former prime minister is being held in prolonged solitary confinement and is denied adequate medical care for a worsening eye condition involving a blood clot. Kasim Khan has accused the military and intelligence agency of targeting his father, though the Pakistani government has dismissed these allegations as "fake propaganda." Officials claim that Khan has full access to food, water, exercise equipment, visits, and medical examinations.
The dispute over detention conditions has drawn international attention. UN Special Rapporteur Alice Jill Edwards called for action against reports of inhumane detention, noting that Khan was confined for 23 hours a day. Additionally, in August, Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered that Khan be sent to a private hospital for examination by his personal physician. However, the government reportedly defied this order, sending him to a state-run hospital instead and citing security concerns regarding potential unrest from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers.
In response to the situation, the PTI party is challenging the government in court over Khan's treatment and is planning nationwide marches to demand his release. Internationally, political pressure has also mounted. In Canada, Saskatchewan Conservative MP Michael Kram presented a petition to the House of Commons calling for Imran Khan's immediate release on humanitarian grounds. Despite these efforts, Global Affairs Canada maintains a non-interference stance.