GENEVA: Kasim Khan, son of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, on Wednesday raised concerns over his father’s imprisonment during a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, alleging violations of international human rights conventions.
Iran Rejects US Peace Plan, Insists War Will End Only on Its Terms
Imran Khan, who has been jailed since 2023 in connection with the £190 million corruption case linked to Toshakhana gifts, is currently serving a 14-year sentence at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. His party and family have repeatedly claimed that he is being held in solitary confinement, with restricted access to visitors and inadequate medical care.
Addressing the council, Kasim Khan described his father’s case as “the most visible example of a wider pattern of repression in Pakistan since 2022,” alleging the detention of political opponents, trials of civilians in military courts, and suppression of journalists.
He also referred to the February 2024 general elections, reiterating PTI’s allegations of electoral irregularities. Kasim emphasized that Pakistan’s obligations under the GSP+ framework — including adherence to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture — were being violated.
He further alleged that Imran Khan’s detention was arbitrary, citing restrictions on family visits and denial of proper medical treatment. Kasim warned that such actions, along with the use of military courts for civilians, contravene Pakistan’s international commitments.
In an emotional appeal, Kasim said he and his brother were compelled to speak out due to concerns over their father’s deteriorating health. “We cannot stand by as his condition worsens and he remains separated from us,” he said.
Separately, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that Imran Khan would be allowed to speak to his children on Eidul Fitr and reiterated that his sons could travel to Pakistan using their National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP).
However, Imran Khan’s former wife Jemima Goldsmith expressed concerns, claiming that traveling on NICOP could leave them without British consular protection.
Meanwhile, concerns over Imran Khan’s health have intensified following reports of partial vision loss in his right eye. He recently underwent a third eye procedure at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where he received an anti-VEGF intra-vitreal injection. His family has requested that he be shifted to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad and that his personal physicians be granted access.
The government has rejected allegations of mistreatment, maintaining that the former prime minister is receiving appropriate care, while opposition leaders continue to demand greater transparency.
Tags:
Imran Khan, Pakistan, UNHRC, Human Rights, PTI, Kasim Khan, Adiala Jail, Politics
Keyword:
ImranKhan
