Latest news with #RichardGrenell
Business Recorder
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Imran Khan's sons meet Trump aide to launch US campaign for father's release
Sulaiman Khan (28) and Kasim Khan (26), sons of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, have met with U.S. special presidential envoy Richard Grenell in California to kick off a campaign to garner international support for their father's release. The brothers made a bold public debut in May, highlighting their father's imprisonment since August 2023 at Pakistan's Adiala Jail. Serving a sentence related to a £190 million corruption conviction, Imran Khan is also facing ongoing trials under the Anti‑Terrorism Act linked to the May 9, 2023, protests. In a photo shared on X, Richard Grenell stood alongside the Khans and U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Vice Chairman Dr Asif Mahmood. Grenell issued a rallying message: 'Stay strong… millions around the world are sick of political prosecutions. You are not alone.' Mahmood expressed admiration for the brothers' determination and praised Grenell's support, calling it a stand for justice and principle . In a previous May interview, Sulaiman and Kasim revealed they had 'exhausted' legal and diplomatic channels, alleging their father was held in 'complete isolation' in a cell likened to those used for death row inmates, without access to lawyers or doctors . They appealed directly to high‑profile figures, especially former U.S. President Donald Trump, to generate global pressure in support of Imran Khan's basic human rights . The siblings are now focusing on a campaign to confront what they describe as a suppressive wave against dissent in Pakistan. Their U.S. launch is expected to coincide with a planned protest movement in Pakistan scheduled for early August, marking the second year since Imran Khan's arrest. Although Pakistani officials have not formally reacted, Barrister Aqeel Malik, the Minister of State for Law and Justice, noted that Article 16 of Pakistan's constitution does not extend to foreigners, and that violating visa rules could lead to consequences. Meanwhile, political voices within the ruling PML‑N are split over whether the Khans should be allowed to return to Pakistan.
Arab News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Trump aide Richard Grenell meets Imran Khan's sons, urges release of jailed former PM
ISLAMABAD: Richard Grenell, the US Envoy for Special Missions under President Donald Trump, met with the jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's sons in California on Wednesday and renewed calls for their father's release, describing his imprisonment as 'political prosecution.' A close aide to the US president, Grenell has been a vocal supporter of Khan in recent months. His endorsement is seen as symbolically significant by supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party who are seeking international attention on the issue. In a post on social media platform X, Grenell shared a photo with Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, saying: 'You must stay strong. There are millions of people around the world who are sick of political prosecutions. You are not alone. #FreeImranKhan.' Welcome to California, my friends. I loved hanging out with you today. Sulaiman and @Kasim_Khan_1999, you must stay strong. There are millions of people around the world who are sick of political prosecutions. You are not alone. #freeimrankhan — Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) July 22, 2025 The meeting comes as PTI prepares to launch a protest campaign in Pakistan demanding Khan's release. The party has announced that Khan's sons, who have largely avoided political engagement, will also participate in the campaign. Khan, 71, has been jailed since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence on a number of charges. PTI says he faces more than 100 legal cases, all of which he calls politically motivated. PTI also remains under pressure, with several senior leaders behind bars and others in hiding or facing legal challenges. Rights groups have accused Pakistani authorities of cracking down on dissent and curbing space for political opposition. In a rare social media post last month, Khan's sons raised concerns about their father's prison conditions and called for his release, saying they feared for his health and well-being. The PTI has yet to finalize details of its planned protest campaign, expected to begin in early August to coincide with the second anniversary of Khan's arrest. The party has framed the movement as a democratic struggle for civil liberties and judicial independence.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
'You are not alone': Trump aide meets Imran Khan's sons in US
Richard Grenell, US President Donald Trump's envoy for special missions, on Tuesday (local time) met the sons of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in California and once again called for the former Pakistani Prime Minister's release, terming his arrest a case of "political prosecution." Grenell posted a photo with Imran Khan's elder son Sulaiman Isa and his second son Kasim Khan, writing that he "loved hanging out" with them and welcoming them to California. In a post on X, Grenell wrote, "Welcome to California, my friends. I loved hanging out with you today. Sulaiman and @Kasim_Khan_1999, you must stay strong. There are millions of people around the world who are sick of political prosecutions. You are not alone." Welcome to California, my friends. I loved hanging out with you today. Sulaiman and @Kasim_Khan_1999, you must stay strong. There are millions of people around the world who are sick of political prosecutions. You are not alone. #freeimrankhan — Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) July 22, 2025 Grenell's latest comments come amid continued criticism from PTI leaders and rights activists over Khan's detention conditions in Adiala Jail, where he has been imprisoned since August 2023. This is not the first time the former US ambassador has supported Imran Khan. In an interview with Newsmax during Trump's election campaign, Grenell stated that the US had "a much better relationship with Pakistan" during the Trump administration, when Khan was in office. He described Khan as a political outsider with a common-sense approach, drawing parallels between Khan's arrest and the legal challenges faced by Donald Trump in the US. "We had a much better relationship with Pakistan during the Trump administration when a guy named Imran Khan was the leader of Pakistan. That's because Imran Khan was an outsider. He was a former cricket player and actually the captain of the Pakistani national cricket team. He wasn't a politician, and he spoke in very common-sense language. He and Donald Trump had a very good relationship," Grenell said. "I'd like to see Imran Khan be released from jail. He's currently in prison, facing many of the same allegations as President Trump, where the ruling party put him in prison and created some sort of corruption and false allegations," he added. Meanwhile, PTI continues to raise concerns over Khan's prison conditions. As per a Dawn report, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram said at a press conference on Friday that Khan is being held in a "death cell," with no access to books, television, or newspapers. "Despite being a former prime minister, Khan was denied both his status and even the basic rights of an ordinary prisoner, which was a matter of grave concern, as he was the country's most popular leader, and the entire nation was deeply worried about his well-being and safety," Akram said. He warned that the ongoing political and judicial pressure, coupled with poor prison conditions, was pushing Pakistan towards a "constitutional and humanitarian crisis."
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
"You are not alone": Trump aide meets Imran Khan's sons in US, calls for end to 'political prosecutions'
California: Richard Grenell, US President Donald Trump's envoy for special missions, on Tuesday met the sons of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in California and once again called for the former Pakistani Prime Minister's release, terming his arrest a case of "political prosecution." Grenell posted a photo with Imran Khan's elder son Sulaiman Isa and his second son Kasim Khan, writing that he "loved hanging out" with them and welcoming them to California. In a post on X, Grenell wrote, "Welcome to California, my friends. I loved hanging out with you today. Sulaiman and @Kasim_Khan_1999, you must stay strong. There are millions of people around the world who are sick of political prosecutions. You are not alone." Grenell's latest comments come amid continued criticism from PTI leaders and rights activists over Khan's detention conditions in Adiala Jail, where he has been imprisoned since August 2023. This is not the first time the former US ambassador has supported Imran Khan. In an interview with Newsmax during Trump's election campaign, Grenell stated that the US had "a much better relationship with Pakistan" during the Trump administration, when Khan was in office. He described Khan as a political outsider with a common-sense approach, drawing parallels between Khan's arrest and the legal challenges faced by Donald Trump in the US. "We had a much better relationship with Pakistan during the Trump administration when a guy named Imran Khan was the leader of Pakistan. That's because Imran Khan was an outsider. He was a former cricket player and actually the captain of the Pakistani national cricket team. He wasn't a politician, and he spoke in very common-sense language. He and Donald Trump had a very good relationship," Grenell said. "I'd like to see Imran Khan be released from jail. He's currently in prison, facing many of the same allegations as President Trump, where the ruling party put him in prison and created some sort of corruption and false allegations," he added. Meanwhile, PTI continues to raise concerns over Khan's prison conditions. As per a Dawn report, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram said at a press conference on Friday that Khan is being held in a "death cell," with no access to books, television, or newspapers. "Despite being a former prime minister, Khan was denied both his status and even the basic rights of an ordinary prisoner, which was a matter of grave concern, as he was the country's most popular leader, and the entire nation was deeply worried about his well-being and safety," Akram said. He warned that the ongoing political and judicial pressure, coupled with poor prison conditions, was pushing Pakistan towards a "constitutional and humanitarian crisis."
Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Kennedy Centre Opera House could be renamed after Melania Trump
The Kennedy Centre's Opera House could be renamed after Melania Trump. Republican Senator for Idaho Mike Simpson proposed the change during a House appropriations committee markup of the centre's funding. Committee members were considering if the change should be made on Tuesday. Mrs Trump is an honorary chairwoman of the Kennedy Centre's board, as is tradition for first ladies. The Opera House is the Washington DC-based institution's second largest theatre, behind the Concert Hall. Mr Trump sacked the chairman of the Kennedy Centre board and its 13 trustees soon after coming into office – making himself chairman and Richard Grenell, his Venezuela envoy, the interim leader. He said his reason for terminating the contracts of members of the board of trustees is that they did not 'share our vision for a golden age in arts and culture '. Since Mr Trump's takeover, the Kennedy Centre's new president has expressed a wish to scrap the current programming and has so far announced a 'big, huge celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas'. Mr Trump's takeover of the centre – one of the foremost cultural institutions in the US – has been greeted with dismay in the arts world. Lin Manuel Miranda, the brain behind the Broadway musical Hamilton cancelled shows at the centre in March, in protest over Mr Trump. Issa Rae and the musician Rhiannon Giddens also cancelled shows. Ben Folds, the songwriter, and Renee Fleming, the singer, stepped down from advisory positions on the board following the Maga takeover. Vice-President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, were booed by the audience when attending a concert by the National Symphony Orchestra in March.
