By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan, the imprisoned founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has said his sons will not travel to Pakistan or participate in protests demanding his release, directly contradicting earlier assertions by his sister.
Yet, the party quickly dismissed reports of any such restriction, deepening the uncertainty surrounding the politically charged party as demonstrations loom.
Khan, who served as Pakistan’s prime minister until his ouster in April 2022, has been behind bars since August 2023. He is currently serving a sentence in Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case and faces additional trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act tied to the violent protests of May 9, 2023. His party, PTI, has mobilized an anti-government campaign, launched earlier this month after a high-level meeting in Lahore, with plans to escalate efforts for his release by August 5.
The controversy erupted when Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, announced that his sons, Suleman Khan, 28, and Kasim Khan, 26, would join the protest movement. She said the brothers, who first spoke publicly about their father’s incarceration in May, would travel to the United States before arriving in Pakistan to support the cause. The claim suggested a rare and significant involvement by Khan’s sons, who have largely remained out of the political spotlight.
In a 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. In an interview broadcast live on X with citizen journalist Mario Nawfal, Qasim Khan said: “We want the international community to take action and who better than [Donald] Trump.”
Last week, both the brothers met with Richard Grenell, a key aide to US President Donald Trump, in California to intensify their campaign to secure their father’s release from jail.
But Khan himself quashed those expectations during a conversation with reporters at Adiala Jail. “My sons will not be coming to Pakistan. They will neither be part of any protest nor will they lead any protest,” he said. When asked about his sister’s conflicting statement, he doubled down: “I am telling you, they aren’t coming to Pakistan and they will not take part in any protest.”
The narrative shifted again on Tuesday when PTI’s Central Information Secretary, Waqas Akram, rejected media reports suggesting Khan had barred his sons from coming. “The news circulating in the media regarding Imran Khan Sahib’s children is completely false. Imran Khan sahib has absolutely not stopped his children from coming to Pakistan,” Akram said. He urged journalists to report Khan’s words precisely, warning against “taking things out of context, selectively, or presenting conversations according to their own wishes.”
In a follow-up statement, Akram insisted that Suleman and Kasim would indeed visit Pakistan, though no specific date has been set. “There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Imran Khan’s children will come to Pakistan,” he said. “When they decided to come, they clearly told their father that we are not seeking your permission but informing you. So, avoid these propagandas because they are of no use.”
The government, meanwhile, has offered a range of responses. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif brushed off the episode as “one drama among many dramas,” accusing Khan of orchestrating it for political leverage. “No move by the founder happens without political or financial gain,” he remarked.
Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik told reporters last week that Article 16 of the Constitution, which governs the right to assemble, applies only to citizens. As British nationals, he warned, the brothers could not legally engage in political activity, and violating visa conditions could lead to cancellation.
PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui offered a softer stance, suggesting they should be allowed entry but must stay within legal limits. Senior officials have hinted at possible arrests if the duo joins PTI protests slated for next month.
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