The sons of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan have issued a desperate plea, stating they fear they may never see their father again due to his deteriorating and allegedly torturous conditions in prison.
'Psychological Torture' in Solitary Confinement
In an exclusive interview with Sky News' The World with Yalda Hakim, Kasim and Sulaiman Khan detailed the grim reality of their father's incarceration. The former cricket star and political leader has been held since August 2023 on convictions he claims are politically motivated.
Kasim Khan described a harrowing scene of isolation and neglect. He stated his father is kept in a solitary confinement cell with filthy water and is surrounded by inmates dying of hepatitis. "He is completely isolated from any human contact," Kasim said, adding that even prison guards are forbidden from communicating with the former PM.
This treatment, the brothers allege, amounts to deliberate psychological torture tactics designed to break the 71-year-old.
The 'Death Cell' and Deteriorating Health
Sulaiman Khan revealed that the family has been told his father's cell is referred to as a 'death cell'. He claimed an army spokesperson confirmed on Friday that Imran Khan, who has survived three assassination attempts, is now in official full isolation.
"He's been in a solitary confinement cell for over two years... the conditions are disgusting," Kasim reiterated. The brothers emphasised that the conditions are completely substandard and fail to meet international legal standards for any prisoner.
Their account aligns with reports from Khan's sister, Uzma Khanum, who visited him earlier in December 2025 and spoke of his severe psychological strain.
A Stalwart's Resolve and a Family's Anguish
Despite the dire circumstances, Kasim insisted his father would never accept a deal for his own freedom that would leave other members of his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in jail. "Instead he stays in those conditions, happy to rot... to move towards his goal of ridding Pakistan of corruption," he told Yalda Hakim.
Yet, the personal toll is immense. Expressing a growing sense of despair, Kasim said: "It's getting harder to see a route out at this point... We're now worried we might never see him again."
The interview has cast a renewed international spotlight on the treatment of the former leader, who served as Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022 before being ousted in a parliamentary vote. A spokesperson for the Pakistani government is scheduled to respond to the allegations on Sky News.
