In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Imran Khan's sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, expressed their deep concerns regarding their father's health and the conditions of his imprisonment. The interview, conducted by former England captain Michael Atherton at Lord's, faced significant pushback from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which reportedly attempted to prevent its airing by threatening to instruct players not to participate in the afternoon session of a match if the interview was broadcast.
This interview comes amid growing scrutiny over the healthcare that Imran Khan has been receiving while incarcerated. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan has been imprisoned since 2023 after being convicted on corruption charges. Reports indicate that his health has significantly deteriorated, prompting a group of 14 former cricket captains to write to the Pakistani government earlier this year, calling for proper medical care for Khan. This appeal was amplified last week when 22 former captains sent a similar letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Following a recent order from Pakistan's Supreme Court mandating that Imran Khan be admitted to Shifa Hospital in Islamabad, he was instead taken to a state-run healthcare facility. After a brief check-up, he was returned to prison, raising further alarm among his family and supporters regarding the adequacy of his medical treatment.
During the Sky interview, both Sulaiman and Kasim Khan criticized the obstacles they have faced in visiting their father since his imprisonment. They described the decision to transfer him to a state-run facility as "extremely frustrating" and voiced their fears that the government is deliberately obstructing their access to him. Kasim Khan stated, "He was checked on by government-selected physicians, and it was a short check-up. It was frustrating for us, especially because we were getting messages saying, 'Congratulations, you must be so happy that he's being dealt with.' In reality, it was just an hour check-up, and then he was sent back to jail."
Sulaiman Khan revealed that his father has lost approximately 80% of the vision in one eye and that his complaints about his eyesight have been ignored. He also expressed concerns regarding Imran's blood pressure and the overall conditions of his confinement. The brothers highlighted that family visits have been severely restricted, with no one able to see him for ten months until recently, despite court orders mandating weekly visits.
Kasim further elaborated on the difficulties they have encountered in obtaining visas to visit their father, claiming that applications have been blocked under technical pretenses. He suggested that the government is fearful of their potential involvement in efforts to advocate for Imran's release, leading to delays and denials of their visa requests.
Both sons painted a troubling picture of their father's current living conditions, stating that he is isolated for more than 23 hours a day in his cell. They described the situation as critical, emphasizing the urgent need for proper medical treatment. Kasim noted that Imran had been seen wearing an eye patch during his last brief interaction with family, indicating the seriousness of his health issues.
In a stark assertion, Kasim Khan accused the Pakistan government of having ulterior motives regarding his father's continued imprisonment, stating, "It's very clear what they're doing, which is they're just blatantly trying to kind of kill him in there. They just want to keep him in there as long as possible and hopefully just silence him." This sentiment reflects the growing concern among supporters and advocates for Imran Khan, as the political landscape in Pakistan continues to evolve.
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