As Imran Khan’s jail sentence extends, his sons Sulaiman and Kasim have spoken publicly for the first time about the conditions their father faces in Pakistan’s Adiala jail, describing them as a “death cell,” in an interview with the Times UK. Held in solitary confinement for more than 28 months, Khan has been denied visits from family and lawyers for much of November, raising fears for his wellbeing among his immediate circle.
The 73-year-old former cricket star and prime minister is reportedly confined to a 6ft by 8ft cell, typically reserved for death row inmates. According to his sons, he has been allowed no reading material beyond the Quran and is provided only dirty brown water to drink and wash with. His last visit from family came on December 9, when his sister was allowed to see him and confirm he was alive.
Khan’s sons recall the first time they feared for his life in November 2022, after he survived an assassination attempt while giving a speech. They attribute his current imprisonment to a conflict with Pakistan’s military generals, who once supported his rise to the premiership in 2018 but later orchestrated his removal in a dramatic no-confidence vote in 2022. Since then, Khan has faced more than 150 charges, including corruption and the illegal sale of state gifts, and was recently sentenced to additional terms totaling over 30 years alongside his third wife, Bushra Bibi.
Despite being banned from contesting elections and facing restrictions on his party’s symbol, Khan’s political party, the PTI, has continued to win seats, defying military-backed coalitions. His sons insist that the treatment he receives far exceeds what previous political prisoners in Pakistan have endured, emphasizing the psychological strain imposed by extreme isolation. They fear the measures aim to coerce him into leaving politics or relocating abroad, a path previously taken by figures like Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto.
The family’s concerns extend to limitations on communication, with the sons unable to speak to Khan for months and barred from informing him of personal family losses, including the death of their grandmother, Lady Annabel Goldsmith. They also allege social media suppression, claiming posts about Khan’s conditions are deliberately throttled following the reinstatement of X (formerly Twitter) in Pakistan.
Internationally, the sons express disappointment at the lack of action from governments and human rights bodies, including the British Foreign Office, given Khan’s long-standing connections to the UK. United Nations special rapporteur Alice Edwards has urged the Pakistani government to lift his solitary confinement, warning of severe consequences for his physical and mental health.
The Pakistani government, through spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi, has rejected the claims of harsh treatment, asserting that Khan is a “superior class” prisoner with access to private living quarters, a gym, veranda, chef, and outdoor space, and that visitation restrictions are due to repeated violations of prison rules prohibiting political activity.
Sulaiman and Kasim maintain that their father remains resolute, spending his time reading the Quran, exercising, and reflecting, while upholding his political mission to fight corruption. The sons, who live in London and have pursued independent careers, are considering visiting Pakistan in the new year, despite fears of potential repercussions.
