Imran Khan’s sons say they plan Pakistan visit in January as jail claims spark debate

Imran Khan’s sons, Kasim and Suleiman Khan, say they have applied for Pakistani visas and plan to visit Pakistan in January, as their claims about jail conditions spark national debate.

WEBDESK – MEDIABITES – DECEMBER 17, 2025

Kasim Khan and Suleiman Khan, the London-based sons of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, have revealed that they have applied for Pakistani visas and are planning to visit Pakistan in January, a move that has quickly drawn public and political attention.

Speaking in an interview with Sky News journalist Yalda Hakim, the brothers said they decided to plan the visit after Pakistani officials publicly stated they were welcome to travel to the country. Kasim Khan said they were now awaiting visa approval and hoped the visit would go ahead as planned.

“We have applied for our visas. It hasn’t come through yet, but we are expecting it to,” Kasim said. “So we are planning a trip in January.”

The interview comes amid continued restrictions on court-ordered prison visits for the former prime minister and a recent sit-in by his sisters outside Adiala Jail, which ended late Tuesday after PTI alleged protesters were dispersed using “chemical-laced” water.

During the interview, the brothers made serious allegations about their father’s detention conditions, claiming he was being held in what they described as a “death cell.” Suleiman said the cell had limited lighting, frequent power cuts, dirty water, and conditions that failed to meet international standards for prisoners.

Kasim said their father avoids discussing his own hardships during rare interactions. “He’s like, ‘Don’t worry about me. How’s everything?’” he said, adding that Khan often asks about family members, including their late grandmother Lady Annabel Goldsmith, whom they have not discussed with him since her death.

Addressing speculation about a possible deal for Khan’s release, Kasim rejected the idea that his father would leave Pakistan. “It’s his life’s purpose,” he said, adding that Khan would never accept exile in exchange for freedom.

The brothers also spoke about the emotional toll of social media rumours about Khan’s alleged death, describing them as deeply distressing and highlighting their sense of helplessness while living abroad.

They urged the international community to ensure human rights standards are upheld and called for enforcement of court orders, access to Khan’s personal physician, and adherence to the rule of law.

Following the interview, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, rejected most of the claims, particularly allegations that Khan was being kept in isolation or denied contact with his sons.

Despite official denials, clips from the interview have gone viral on social media, where users are reacting not only to the claims but also to the brothers’ appearance and resemblance to their father. Many praised them as “like father, like sons,” with some referring to them as “princes” and expressing hopes for a family reunion.