Karachi: Suleman and Qasim Khan, the sons of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, have called for international intervention to address their father’s continued imprisonment and the lack of progress in his legal case. Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since August 2023, is serving a sentence related to a 190 million-pound corruption case and facing additional charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act connected to the May 9, 2023, protests.
In a rare public appearance, the brothers expressed growing frustration over their father’s detention conditions, speaking out during an interview with influencer Mario Nawfal. This marked the first time Suleman, 28, and Qasim, 26, had publicly addressed the situation. The brothers revealed that, despite a court ruling in November 2023 granting them the right to weekly phone calls with their father, these communications have been sporadic and limited in duration.
The brothers shared that the calls were often arranged at inconvenient times, sometimes occurring only once or twice every few months. “We’ve exhausted all other options,” Suleman said, noting that attempts through legal avenues had not yielded any meaningful results. “It seems to have gone quiet in the international media, and we’re still struggling to get any substantial progress.”
In light of their frustrations, the brothers are now appealing for international pressure to secure their father’s release. They described the conditions of his imprisonment as inhumane, emphasizing the denial of basic human rights and calling for global attention. While they expressed appreciation for figures like US official Richard Grenell, they clarified that they had not been in direct contact with him.
Suleman and Qasim also called on governments that champion free speech and democracy to take a stand in support of Imran Khan’s release. Additionally, they expressed hope that former US President Donald Trump might lend his influence to raise awareness about the issue. “We’d love to speak to Trump or find a way for him to help,” Qasim said.
Although they have taken a public stance, the brothers made it clear they do not intend to become politically involved, and they had sought their father’s permission before speaking out.