Imran Khan’s son says no one has heard from imprisoned cricket legend for months – and that fears are growing
Imran Khan’s son Sulaiman says the family has had no contact with the imprisoned former Pakistan prime minister since August, raising concerns about his health and treatment. Khan, a former cricket star, is serving a 14-year sentence after corruption and bribery convictions, which he denies.
His lawyers say he is held in a small solitary cell and denied court-ordered medical care; reports say he has lost much of the vision in his right eye and has high blood pressure. Sulaiman says authorities have not followed an August Supreme Court order for hospital assessment and family and lawyer visits. The family has also criticised the UK government for not intervening, while Pakistani authorities’ response is not included in the article.
In short
- Imran Khan’s son says the family has had no contact with him since August.
- Lawyers say Khan is in solitary confinement and lacks court-ordered medical care.
- Khan denies the charges behind his 14-year sentence.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The family and lawyers have reason to press for independent confirmation of Khan’s health and access to medical care, legal counsel and relatives, particularly given reports of vision loss and high blood pressure. If court-ordered visits and assessment have not taken place, that would raise serious concerns about his welfare and the rule of law, regardless of the convictions he denies.
The case against
Authorities could argue that Khan is being held under lawful sentences and that decisions about his custody and medical arrangements must follow Pakistani law and security procedures. Without their response or independent confirmation of the reported restrictions, it is not possible to establish from this account whether they have failed to comply with court orders or denied necessary care; the family’s call for UK intervention also raises questions about the limits of another government’s role in a domestic legal matter.
Explained simply
Imran Khan became famous as a cricketer before entering politics, and served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022. He leads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which says his legal cases are politically motivated; Pakistan’s authorities have rejected that claim.
Khan was arrested in 2023 and has since faced several cases, including convictions linked to corruption and bribery, which he denies. His imprisonment has become a focus of dispute between his supporters and the government, as well as concern over his access to legal representation and medical care.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court can issue orders affecting his detention and access to care, while prison officials are responsible for carrying them out. The case matters because it involves the treatment of a former national leader in custody and raises questions about the courts, political opposition and prisoners’ rights.