Geneva: Kasim Khan, son of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, spoke out strongly about his father’s condition. He did so at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday.
Address to the council
Addressing the session, Kasim said authorities are holding his father in violation of international human rights standards. Imran Khan has remained in prison since 2023. He is currently serving a 14-year sentence in the £190 million corruption case at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
Kasim told the council that his father’s case is not an isolated one. He described it as “the most visible example of a wider pattern of repression in Pakistan since 2022.” He pointed to the detention of political workers. He also highlighted trials of civilians in military courts, and journalists being silenced, abducted or forced into exile. He repeated PTI’s claim that the February 2024 general elections were rigged.
Human rights commitments
The young Khan reminded Pakistan of its commitments under the GSP+ trade scheme to respect human rights treaties. These include the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention against Torture.
Allegations about prison conditions
He specifically alleged that authorities keep Imran Khan in solitary confinement. They restrict family visits. They deny him proper medical care. Kasim said these actions, along with the use of military courts for civilians, breach Pakistan’s international obligations.
“My brother and I are not political people. We never wanted to come before bodies like this,” Kasim said. “But my father’s life demands that we take action. We cannot stand by as his health deteriorates. He remains away from us.”
Visa issue and family concerns
Kasim also repeated his claim that the government has deliberately delayed or refused to process visas for him and his brother Sulaiman. Both live in London with their mother Jemima Goldsmith. He called it “collective punishment” to stop a prisoner’s children from seeing their father.
Medical treatment updates
Meanwhile, Imran Khan underwent a third eye injection on Monday at PIMS hospital in Islamabad after reports of partial vision loss in his right eye. His family and personal doctors continue to demand a transfer to Shifa International Hospital. They also want authorities to allow access to his own physicians. The government denies any mistreatment and says it is providing proper medical care.
