(Web Desk) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s son, Kasim Khan, has revealed that he and his brother Suleiman have applied for visas and are intending to visit Pakistan in January. He also spoke about the circumstances in which the former prime minister is being held, alleging that Imran Khan is confined in what he described as a “death cell”.
These comments were made in an interview with Sky News journalist Yalda Hakim. The interview coincided with another protest outside Adiala Jail by Imran Khan’s sisters, who were demanding access to meet him. The sit-in was dispersed using water cannons, with PTI claiming that the water contained chemicals.
With court-mandated prison visits repeatedly blocked, Imran Khan’s family and party leaders have raised serious concerns about his treatment in jail. A UN special rapporteur has also cautioned that the conditions of his detention may amount to inhuman or degrading treatment.
In the interview, which was aired early Wednesday, Kasim and Suleiman — both London-based — were asked whether they had attempted to communicate with Pakistani authorities to seek permission to meet their father.
Hakim reminded them that they had earlier spoken about being discouraged from travelling, despite Defence Minister Khawaja Asif publicly stating that they were welcome to visit Imran Khan.
Responding to this, Kasim said, “We are now planning to because they said it openly. So — unless they go against their word — we should be hopefully going in January. We have applied for our visas. […] It hasn’t come through yet. We are expecting it to come through, so we are planning a trip in January.”
Hakim then asked what message they would convey to their father upon meeting him and whether they would urge him to consider negotiating a deal.
Kasim responded that Imran Khan’s political struggle was deeply personal and central to his identity, explaining that “what you have to understand is it’s his life. It’s literally his passion and his goal. He calls it his life’s purpose to help rid Pakistan of corruption”.
He added that if Imran Khan were to leave politics and relocate to England, it would leave him emotionally burdened, saying, “And so if he just took a deal and came over to us and lived in England, I know there would be this burning desire and this aching that he has left his country for dead. And he would be depressed, to be honest. I know he would.”
Kasim further said that while the family would want their father close to them, they respected his sense of purpose, stating, “This is his goal, and as much as we’d love to have our father watching all of our cricket matches or football matches over here, he has a purpose which is far greater. So, you can only respect it.”
Asked what else he would like to say to Imran Khan, Kasim expressed frustration and helplessness, saying, “I want to know how we can get him out, how we can help because the main point is we feel so helpless at this point. I mean, there’s so much to catch up on.”
He also shared that during their conversations, Imran Khan avoids discussing his imprisonment conditions, noting that “He’s like, ‘Oh, you know, don’t worry about me. How’s everything?’” Kasim added that his father also regularly asked about their grandmother, Lady Annabel Goldsmith, who passed away in October. Kasim said they had not spoken to Imran Khan since her death and wished to discuss it with him, recalling how close their relationship had been.
When asked whether they believed Imran Khan would ever be released, the brothers expressed pessimism. Kasim remarked that the situation was worsening and that those in power were becoming more entrenched, making prospects of release uncertain.
He said, “The conditions are getting worse. The people in power are becoming more entrenched. So, it’s very hard to see a way out and a lot of the people we speak to […] are seeming less and less confident every time we speak to them.
“So, we’re now worried we might never see him again,”
Despite the defence minister’s assurances, Kasim said he remained sceptical. Suleiman added that Imran Khan was not someone inclined to compromise, stating that international pressure might be the most effective way forward.
Hakim also questioned them about the conditions inside Imran Khan’s prison cell. Kasim described the situation as dire, saying, “The conditions are awful. Like, they are not bad, they are awful.”
Suleiman added that the cell had been described to them as a “death cell”, alleging poor lighting, power outages and unsafe water, which he claimed failed to meet international standards.
They were also asked how they reacted to social media rumours suggesting Imran Khan had died. Suleiman described the experience as “incredibly stressful”, explaining that he immediately contacted family members in Pakistan for verification.
Kasim said encountering such rumours was “jarring” and deeply unsettling, particularly given their inability to intervene from abroad.
Hakim then referenced a December meeting between Imran Khan and his sister Uzma, after which a strongly worded message attributed to Imran Khan was posted on X, prompting a sharp response from the military’s media wing.
Suleiman said Uzma told them Imran Khan was physically fine but extremely angry about his treatment. He added that the social media post dictated after the meeting may have led authorities to further isolate him.
Asked about their message to the international community, Suleiman urged global actors to ensure basic human rights were upheld, stressing the need for independent oversight of Imran Khan’s detention.
Kasim highlighted the importance of enforcing court orders related to visitation rights, upholding the rule of law and allowing Imran Khan access to his personal doctor.
Hakim also asked about Imran Khan’s likely reaction to recent constitutional changes, including immunity provisions for the army chief. Kasim said he believed his father would not be surprised and suggested Pakistan was moving towards “a military dictatorship in everything but name”.
The brothers also shared plans to engage in advocacy efforts in Brussels and Geneva to raise awareness about their father’s situation.
When asked if they ever expected to lobby for their father’s freedom, Kasim said it was not entirely unexpected, recalling earlier concerns about his father’s safety in politics. He differentiated Imran Khan’s imprisonment from that of other politicians, saying the conditions and prolonged isolation were far harsher.
When asked what those in power feared most, both brothers answered together: “Popularity.” Kasim added that Imran Khan’s mass appeal made his release a threat to the current leadership.
PM's Adviser Mosharraf Zaidi's interview
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, also appeared on the programme and disputed claims of solitary confinement. He said Imran Khan had been jailed for approximately 860 days and had hundreds of meetings with family members and lawyers.
Zaidi argued that the frequency of these interactions contradicted claims of isolation, saying, “This doesn’t sound like solitary confinement to me.” He also insisted that Imran Khan’s personal physician had access to him.
He acknowledged a brief suspension of visits, attributing it to security concerns and alleged that meetings often turned political.
When Hakim pointed out that Imran Khan had not spoken to his sons for months, Zaidi said the last call was in September and questioned whether both sons were on the line.
He said the government did not wish to argue with Imran Khan’s sons but maintained that there was no official restriction on communication.
As the discussion grew tense, Hakim challenged Zaidi on his responses. He defended himself by saying he was attempting to provide context and information. Zaidi cited prison rules restricting political discussion during visits and noted the volume of posts from Imran Khan’s X account since his incarceration.
Hakim then referenced Zaidi’s past social media posts criticising Imran Khan’s arrest, asking if he still stood by them. Zaidi said he did, but argued that Pakistan’s security environment had since changed.
When asked directly whether he viewed Imran Khan as a threat, Zaidi responded, “Absolutely.”
He dismissed the UN rapporteur’s concerns as based on flawed information and suggested that critics lacked firsthand knowledge of Pakistan.
When Hakim offered to visit Pakistan and interview Imran Khan, Zaidi said prison rules would not allow it, instead offering an interview with the prime minister.
He concluded by saying that incarceration inherently limits freedom and argued that critics selectively applied the concept of rule of law in Imran Khan’s case.