Imran's sons call on Trump to intervene for father's release

Express Tribune

4 days ago

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The sons of former prime minister Imran Khan have appealed for international attention to what they describe as their father's 'inhumane' incarceration, calling particularly on former US President Donald Trump to use his influence to support his release.
In a wide-ranging interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, the two brothers expressed deep concern over the deteriorating health and prison conditions of their father, who has been in custody at Adiala Jail since August 2023.
'We'd urge Pakistan's leaders to respect democracy, respect the will of the Pakistani people — which was clear despite the massive rigging in February's elections — and to give him a fair trial,' said Sulaiman Khan.
The brothers, who have largely avoided the spotlight in the past, broke their public silence over their father's imprisonment in May this year.
The brothers said they were compelled to speak out due to the desperate circumstances surrounding their father's detention. 'We're quite private people… but it's getting to a stage where we're desperate. We want to do whatever we can,' said Kasim.
Sulaiman and Kasim revealed that they have not seen their father in nearly three years, and have not spoken to him for over four months.
Read More: Imran being kept in 'poor conditions', says Kasim Khan
'A Pakistani court mandated weekly phone calls, but we would sometimes go two or three months without contact,' said Sulaiman. 'Often, we'd receive a message at 2am saying we would speak to him at 9am. If we missed that, the chance was gone — it rolled on another two months.'
The brothers said they had not been allowed a single phone call since their last public interview, suggesting that authorities were using this to 'cause him further distress.'
Describing Khan's current conditions in jail, the brothers alleged he was confined to a small cell for 22 hours a day with limited access to books, his legal team, and even his physician.
'He's washing himself with visibly murky, discoloured water. The hygiene levels are abysmal,' said Kasim. 'Ten people have died in that prison due to hepatitis C, which is believed to have spread through unsanitary conditions.'
They also alleged that authorities had restricted access to the few books Khan was allowed to read, and said his physical and mental well-being was increasingly at risk.
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'There have been moments where I've thought: am I going to see him again?' Kasim said quietly. 'This is the longest I've gone without speaking to him. The fear is very real.'
The brothers said they had explored the possibility of visiting Pakistan to see their father but were warned by sources within the Pakistani government and their own extended network that they would likely be arrested upon arrival.
'We still applied for visas and haven't received any response yet,' they said, adding that they remained hopeful of travelling to Pakistan when circumstances allowed.
Sulaiman and Kasim also called on the international community — particularly US President Donald Trump — to use his influence to support their father's release.
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'If anyone can make a difference, it's him,' said Sulaiman. 'Trump and my father had a great relationship when both were in office. They respected each other, and we know he's one of the few people who could get the establishment in Pakistan to act.'
They also acknowledged support from US Special Presidential Envoy Richard Grenell, who has publicly advocated for Khan's release on social media.
'We would love to speak to Trump or find some way he could help. At the end of the day, all we want is to free our father, restore democracy in Pakistan, and ensure his basic human rights are respected,' Sulaiman said.