The sons of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan have issued a desperate plea, stating they fear they may never see their father alive again as he endures what they describe as horrific detention conditions amounting to 'psychological torture'.
'Death Cell' Conditions and Psychological Torture
In an exclusive interview with Sky News' The World with Yalda Hakim, Kasim and Sulaiman Khan revealed the dire situation facing their father, who has been imprisoned since August 2023. They have not spoken to him for months.
Kasim Khan detailed the appalling circumstances, stating Imran Khan has been held in solitary confinement for over two years. He described a cell with filthy water and proximity to inmates dying of hepatitis, labelling the overall conditions as 'disgusting'. The former cricket star and premier is said to be completely isolated from any human contact.
Sulaiman Khan emphasised the severity, noting that an army spokesperson confirmed on Friday that his father was officially in full isolation. He said the cell has been described as a 'death cell' and that the 'completely substandard conditions' fail to meet international law for any prisoner.
A Vanishing Hope for Freedom
Expressing a growing sense of despair, Kasim Khan told Yalda Hakim: 'It's getting harder to see a route out at this point. We're trying to have faith. But at the same time, right now, the conditions are getting worse.'
The family's worst fear was laid bare when he added: 'It's very hard to see a way out… We're now worried we might never see him again.'
Imran Khan was removed from power in a 2022 parliamentary vote and later jailed after convictions in a series of cases he maintains are politically motivated. Prior to his political career, he was a national hero, famed for leading Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
International Scrutiny and Government Response
The alarming claims from Khan's family are set to increase international scrutiny on Pakistan's treatment of its most high-profile prisoner. The interview aired on Tuesday 16 December 2025.
A response from the Pakistani government is expected. Mosharraf Zaidi, a government spokesperson, was scheduled to speak to Yalda Hakim on Sky News from 9pm on the same day.
The situation highlights ongoing intense political turmoil in Pakistan, with Khan's continued detention and alleged mistreatment remaining a flashpoint for his millions of supporters and human rights observers worldwide.
