New Delhi: In the midst of the crisis surrounding former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's health, his son Kasim Khan has claimed that for the past six weeks, his father has been held in solitary confinement in a death cell with no transparency. He further claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Shareef (PTI) founder has been refused all visits and phone calls despite clear court orders allowing access.
In response, his son, Kasim Khan, has publicly demanded confirmation that his father is alive, along with immediate access and his eventual release.
Posting on X on Thursday, Kasim said it has now been 845 days since Imran Khan was imprisoned, adding that his father has reportedly spent the last six weeks in a death cell with no contact allowed with family members, IANS reported.
"For the past six weeks, he has been kept alone in a death cell in an environment of complete isolation. His sisters have been barred from every meeting, despite clear court orders. No phone calls, no meetings, and no news of his well-being. My brother and I have not been able to contact our father in any way," Kasim wrote.
Kasim alleged that this level of secrecy is not a routine security measure, but an intentional attempt to hide Khan’s condition and block communication with his family.
"Let it be clear that the Pakistani government and its masters will bear full legal, moral, and international responsibility for my father's safety and every consequence of this inhumane isolation," he added.
Calling the situation “inhumane,” Kasim urged global leaders, international courts, and human rights organisations to intervene. He listed several demands, including a verified confirmation of Imran Khan’s status, communication access as mandated by court rulings, an end to solitary confinement and what he calls “politically-motivated imprisonment.”
Khan’s sister emphasised that the authorities could resolve the situation by simply following judicial directives.
“The solution is simple… follow court orders and allow his family, his lawyers, and his party leadership to meet him.”
Imran Khan's family has also warned that the authorities would not dare harm him, stating, “The only reason we believe him to be safe is because the authorities would not dare to hurt even a hair on Imran Khan’s head. They are well aware of the consequences… He is the leader of at least 90 per cent of Pakistan.”
The incident reportedly occurred after the trio, along with other members of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had been staging a sit-in outside Adiala Jail for nearly a month after being repeatedly denied permission to meet him.
Noreen Niazi said they were holding a peaceful protest out of concern for Khan’s health and insisted that they had not disrupted traffic, blocked roads, or taken part in any illegal activity. She alleged that, without any warning, the streetlights in the area were suddenly turned off, plunging the surroundings into darkness, after which Punjab Police personnel launched what she described as a coordinated attack on the protesters.
Recalling the incident, Niazi claimed she was forcibly grabbed by her hair, thrown to the ground, and dragged across the road despite her age of 71, leaving her with visible injuries. She further alleged that several other women present outside the jail were also assaulted, with some being slapped and dragged by policemen.
Niazi accused the police of following a long-standing pattern of excessive and arbitrary use of force against peaceful protesters over the past three years, describing the conduct as unlawful, unethical, and inconsistent with the responsibilities of law enforcement in a democratic society.
Khan’s sisters have demanded that the Punjab inspector general of police take immediate action against all officers involved in the alleged assault.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Adiala Jail authorities denied reports that Imran Khan had been shifted elsewhere, with an official stating that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder was in stable health and continues to be lodged in the same prison. Pakistan minister Khawaja Asif was also quoted as saying that Khan had been provided meals that were superior to food served at luxury hotels, Indian Express reported.
Meanwhile, Kasin Khan was cited as urging the international community and global human rights bodies to step in without delay. He appealed for independent verification of Khan’s safety, enforcement of court-mandated access, an end to what he described as solitary confinement, and the release of the jailed leader, whom he characterised as being detained for political reasons.
Authorities further rejected rumours about Khan’s deteriorating health, describing them as baseless, and reiterated that his medical condition was under regular supervision.
Imran Khan has been in custody since August 2023, facing multiple legal cases that he insists are politically driven. In January this year, he and his wife were convicted in a corruption case, receiving sentences of 14 years and seven years, respectively.
Earlier in March, leaders from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Khan’s political party, also claimed he was being held in a death cell under solitary confinement. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram stated at the time that conditions remained harsh both before and after the conviction.
As rumours grow and official silence persists, the international community is closely watching how Pakistani authorities respond to growing calls for transparency regarding Khan’s condition and legal status.