In a rare public appearance, former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sons — 28-year-old Suleman Khan and 26-year-old Qasim Khan — have spoken out about their father’s imprisonment, drawing attention to the conditions he is facing.
Imran Khan has been incarcerated at Adiala Jail since August 2023 in connection with the £190 million corruption case. He also faces ongoing legal proceedings under the Anti-Terrorism Act for his alleged role in the May 9, 2023 protests. This marks the first time his sons have publicly addressed his detention. Although a court permitted them to contact their father weekly starting November 2023, they claim those calls have not consistently been facilitated.
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In an interview with X influencer Mario Nawfal, Qasim explained why they had decided to go public:
“We’ve explored all legal avenues. We truly didn’t expect him to be in prison for as long as he has been — and things are only getting worse. We’ve reached a point where the only path forward is to speak out publicly.”
He emphasized the need for global attention:
“What we’re calling for is international pressure on Pakistan. Right now, he’s being held in inhumane conditions without access to basic rights. The authorities simply aren’t doing enough — we need the world to take notice.”
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Suleman echoed these sentiments, saying, “We’ve exhausted legal options, but the issue seems to have faded from international media coverage.”
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has consistently raised concerns over Imran’s prison conditions and has filed several petitions in the Islamabad High Court. However, the jail administration has denied any wrongdoing.
Asked about US diplomat Richard Grenell’s recent statements in support of their father, Suleman said they hadn’t personally contacted him but appreciated his efforts:
“We’re grateful for the support he’s shown.”
When questioned about the Trump administration, Suleman said:
“We appeal to any government that upholds democracy and free speech to support the call for our father’s release.”
Qasim added, “We want the international community to see what’s happening and take action. Who better than Trump to bring global attention to this? We’d love the opportunity to speak with him to explore ways he could help. Ultimately, we just want to free our father, restore democracy in Pakistan, and ensure his basic rights are respected.”
Discussing the emotional toll of the ordeal, Qasim described the experience as “pretty brutal.” The brothers said their phone conversations with Imran were scheduled at odd hours and for very short durations — and missing one often meant waiting months for another chance to talk.
They also clarified that they have no intention of entering politics and only spoke publicly after seeking their father’s permission.
Despite being the children of two public figures, the brothers have largely stayed out of the spotlight. Their mother, British journalist and screenwriter Jemima Goldsmith, has repeatedly stated that her sons are not involved in Pakistani politics.
After anti-PTI protests took place outside her UK home in 2022, she posted on the former Twitter platform:
“I have nothing to do with Pakistani politics, and neither do my children. They are private individuals who are not on social media.”
In 2023, Jemima also criticized X owner Elon Musk for removing the platform’s verification system, which led to the creation of fake accounts impersonating her sons.
“Fake accounts pretending to be my children, made by political trolls in Pakistan — this is exactly what I feared when blue-tick verification was removed. Just to clarify, my children are not on social media and have no intention of joining,” she wrote.
You can watch the whole interview here