Imran Khan’s sons renew concerns over father’s health

The sons of former prime minister Imran Khan have once again expressed concern over their father's health, saying they

The sons of former prime minister Imran Khan have once again expressed concern over their father’s health, saying they have been unable to receive reliable information about his condition due to continued restrictions on family access.

Speaking in an interview with an international news outlet, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan said they have not been allowed to communicate with their father for several months and claimed that his family, lawyers and personal doctors have also been denied regular access.

Kasim said the family has remained in the dark about Imran Khan’s health throughout his imprisonment. He referred to an Islamabad High Court order that directed authorities to facilitate regular phone calls, but claimed the arrangement has not been effectively implemented.

The brothers, who were interviewed in London, also said they have been trying to travel to Pakistan but have faced difficulties related to travel documentation. According to them, their National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPs) have expired, while visa-related issues have prevented them from visiting their father.

The Ministry of Information, however, rejected the allegations, maintaining that the brothers possess NICOPs and therefore do not require visas to enter Pakistan. The ministry described their claims as misleading and said an administrative matter should not be turned into a political issue. The government did not comment on the brothers’ claim that their identity cards had expired.

Asked whether Imran Khan might reach a political understanding with the government, both sons expressed doubt. Sulaiman said his father would be unlikely to agree to any arrangement that did not also address the situation of other political prisoners. Kasim added that the family’s inability to obtain updated medical information made it difficult to assess his father’s current health.

The brothers also criticised the legal cases against the former prime minister, insisting the allegations were politically motivated. Kasim urged the international community to pay attention to the situation, claiming that his father remained imprisoned despite enjoying widespread public support.

Imran Khan has been in prison since August 2023 after being convicted in the Toshakhana case. He is also serving a sentence in the £190 million corruption case and continues to face several other legal proceedings, including cases linked to the May 9 riots.

His health has remained a point of dispute between the government and the opposition since he was diagnosed earlier this year with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), an eye condition affecting vision. Opposition leaders and members of his family have repeatedly demanded access for his personal doctors and called for his transfer to a private hospital for further treatment.