by Our Special Correspondent
Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan is set to mark three years in solitary confinement at Adiala jail outside Rawalpindi this week, as reports emerge that behind-the-scenes discussions have taken place over the possibility of securing his release after years of political deadlock.
Khan, Pakistan’s celebrated World Cup-winning cricket captain and one of the country’s most recognisable public figures, has remained largely absent from public view since he was jailed on corruption charges in 2023 following a confrontation with the country’s powerful military establishment. Since his imprisonment, he has been seen publicly only once, through leaked still images from an online court hearing, reinforcing the secrecy surrounding his detention.
According to sources close to both the Pakistani military establishment and Khan’s family, exploratory discussions have been conducted through third-party intermediaries over a possible agreement that could lead to his release. The sensitivity of Khan’s imprisonment, together with the potentially far-reaching political consequences of any decision to free him, has meant that no direct negotiations have taken place.
One source familiar with the discussions said the prolonged political impasse had become increasingly damaging for Pakistan. “This political deadlock must come to an end if Pakistan is to move forward,” the source said. “Prolonged political instability has inflicted enormous damage on the country.”
One option reportedly under consideration would involve Khan being released on medical grounds. The 73-year-old underwent an eye operation earlier this year, while his family has repeatedly expressed concern about what they describe as his deteriorating health. Those concerns have intensified after relatives were reportedly prevented from contacting him for several months, fuelling widespread rumours about his wellbeing.
In a statement to The Observer, Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, said they could no longer remain silent. “Our father has been isolated from the outside world for more than seven months,” they said. “We fear our father’s health has deteriorated during the prolonged imprisonment, and we have been denied regular, independent contact with him.”
Sayed Zulfi Bukhari, Khan’s adviser for international media, also called for his immediate release, arguing that the former prime minister required urgent medical attention. “Imran Khan’s health is deteriorating and he urgently needs proper medical attention. He has been kept in isolation and has not been allowed to meet his sisters, family members or even his lawyers,” Bukhari told The Observer. “If the government has any sense of responsibility, it should release Imran Khan on medical grounds.”
The prospect of such an arrangement recalls the case of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was allowed to leave Pakistan for medical treatment in London in 2019 after being jailed on corruption charges following his own confrontation with the military. However, any similar agreement involving Khan would reportedly require him to leave Pakistan, withdraw from politics and refrain from making public statements.
Many observers doubt Khan would agree to such conditions. Human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith described the former prime minister as deeply principled and unwilling to compromise. “He’s obstinate. He wouldn’t wear a helmet to face a West Indian quick bowler and [he’s] not going to [accept] this,” he said. “I wish he would. As a personal friend of mine, I don’t want to see him die in prison all alone.”
Stafford Smith also questioned whether Pakistan’s military leadership would ultimately permit Khan’s release. “They won’t let him go because he’s a person of great principle and he won’t shut up,” he said.
Khan’s political career has long been intertwined with Pakistan’s military establishment. After years in opposition following his return to politics, he became prime minister in 2018 amid widespread accusations that the military had helped facilitate his rise, allegations that Khan denied. Relations later deteriorated sharply, culminating in his removal through a no-confidence vote in 2022 after a series of public disputes with military leaders.
Since his arrest and sentencing, which triggered nationwide riots, Pakistani authorities have sought to minimise Khan’s public profile. Newspapers and broadcasters were reportedly prohibited from mentioning his name, while footage of him lifting the 1992 Cricket World Cup trophy was omitted from a promotional video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board, prompting widespread criticism.
Despite reports of indirect contacts, Pakistan’s government has publicly rejected suggestions that the military is involved in any negotiations. Talal Chaudhry, the minister of state for interior, told The Observer that any discussions concerning Khan would be conducted directly with the government. “This is a political matter, and the establishment has nothing to do with it. The establishment has no role in politics,” he said. Chaudhry also dismissed calls for Khan’s release on medical grounds, stating that the former prime minister was “fine” and that his legal cases would be determined by the courts.
