Imran Khan’s release has officially become the focus of a new international advocacy push as the former prime minister’s sons, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan, met with top Trump aide Richard Grenell in California. Their meeting marks the formal launch of a global campaign seeking Imran Khan’s release from prison, where he has been held since August 2023 in connection with a £190 million corruption case and multiple other legal proceedings.
The push for Imran Khan’s release gained momentum when Richard Grenell, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions, posted a public message on X (formerly Twitter), expressing support for the brothers and for Imran Khan’s release. Grenell urged the two to remain resilient in their fight, assuring them that “millions of people around the world are sick of political prosecutions. You are not alone.”
Also supporting the call for Imran Khan’s release was Dr. Asif Mahmood, a Pakistani-American physician and vice chairman of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Dr. Mahmood joined the brothers and Grenell, applauding their commitment and bravery in standing up for their father and publicly advocating for Imran Khan’s release. Mahmood also praised Grenell for his consistent stance on justice, unity, and principles of democratic integrity.
Imran Khan’s release has now become central to the political activity of the PTI diaspora, especially in the United States, as the brothers seek to internationalize the call for justice. Earlier this month, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan confirmed the brothers’ US trip, stating their mission was to bring attention to what she described as legal and political injustices against their father. She said they would later come to Pakistan to join the domestic movement for Imran Khan’s release.
However, the legal and political implications of their involvement raise new questions. Pakistan’s Minister of State for Law and Justice, Barrister Aqeel Malik, clarified that according to Article 16 of the Constitution, the right to gather is limited to Pakistani citizens. Since the brothers hold British nationality, they cannot legally participate in any political rally or gathering in Pakistan. Malik warned that any breach of visa conditions by the brothers in Pakistan may lead to visa cancellation.
Despite the restrictions, conflicting opinions have emerged from within the ruling coalition. PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui stated that the brothers should be allowed into Pakistan to advocate for Imran Khan’s release, as long as they remain within the legal framework. Other party officials, however, have voiced concerns about foreign nationals becoming involved in political activism, regardless of the context surrounding Imran Khan’s release.
The meeting with Richard Grenell signals the beginning of an international diplomatic effort aimed at securing Imran Khan’s release. The public appearances of Kasim and Sulaiman Khan in the United States show PTI’s strategic pivot to gather support beyond Pakistan’s borders, keeping Imran Khan’s release front and center in global conversations about justice and political freedom.
