By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The sons of Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan have applied for visas to visit their father, whose detention since August 2023 has fueled political tensions.
The applications, lodged with the Pakistan High Commission in London, await approval from Islamabad’s Ministry of Interior, Khan’s sister, Aleema Khanum, said on X.
“A few days ago, Suleiman [Khan] and Kasim [Khan] applied for their visas with the Pakistan High Commission in London. The ambassador has intimated that he is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad,” Khanum wrote.
Khan, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, is serving a sentence in Adiala Jail over a £190 million corruption case and faces further trials tied to May 2023 protests under the Anti-Terrorism Act. His supporters claim the charges are politically motivated.
Khan, a former cricket legend, has been a polarizing figure since his ouster from power in 2022. His imprisonment has fueled accusations from supporters that the government is wielding the judiciary as a tool to stifle dissent. Until recently, his sons, born and raised in Britain, kept a low profile. That changed in May when they spoke out publicly for the first time about their father’s incarceration. Last month, they traveled to the United States, meeting with lawmakers to press for his release, a trip Khanum described as part of a broader movement to rally support for the ex-premier.
Their visa bids have reignited debate over their nationality and potential role in Pakistan’s turbulent political landscape.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry seized on Khanum’s post to challenge her earlier claims that Suleiman and Kasim hold National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (Nicop), which are issued to Pakistani citizens abroad. “If they do need visas, that means they are not ‘Pakistani nationals’. What is the real truth behind it all?” Chaudhry wrote on X, casting doubt on their legal status.
Khanum has been steadfast in her assertions. She previously told reporters that the brothers “definitely” planned to come to Pakistan, emphasising that they possess Nicop cards and are “citizens of Pakistan.” “If anything were to happen to Imran’s sons, it would become an international matter,” signaling the heightened stakes surrounding their prospective visit.
The government has yet to issue an official stance on the visa requests, but the matter has already sparked a flurry of reactions from political figures. Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik, speaking to a private television channel pointed to Article 16 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to assemble but applies only to citizens. As British nationals, he argued, Suleiman and Kasim are barred from participating in political gatherings in Pakistan. “If they violate the visa conditions, the visa can be cancelled,” Malik warned.
Yet, within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), opinions diverge. Senator Irfan Siddiqui struck a more permissive tone, suggesting that the brothers should be allowed to enter Pakistan and “carry out their activities,” provided they stay within legal boundaries.
Chaudhry, for his part, has downplayed concerns about the visit’s impact. In earlier remarks, he said the brothers were welcome in Pakistan and that their visas would be issued “in less than 24 hours,” so long as they adhered to the law.
The timing adds another layer of intrigue. The PTI this week moved quickly to dismiss media reports claiming Khan had told reporters at Adiala Jail that his sons would neither visit Pakistan nor lead protests. The party’s forceful denial hints at the significance it attaches to their potential arrival, which could galvanize supporters on August 5 planned protest.
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