Imran Khan’s son alleges ‘death-cell isolation’, demands proof of life as pressure mounts on Pakistan

Kasim Khan, the younger son of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has issued a direct and unprecedented accusation against Pakistan’s government, claiming his father is being held in complete isolation and that the family has been denied any proof of life.

In a strongly worded message posted on X, Kasim said the family has had no access to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, alleging his confinement has crossed into human rights abuse.

“My father has been under arrest for 845 days. For the past six weeks, he has been in solitary confinement in a death cell with zero transparency,” Kasim wrote. “There have been no phone calls, no meetings and no proof of life.”

Imran Khan — the former cricket icon whose political rise reshaped Pakistan’s power structure — has been serving multiple sentences the PTI insists are “politically engineered” to remove him from public life and the 2025 elections. His sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, raised in the UK by their mother Jemima Goldsmith, rarely weigh in on internal Pakistani politics — making this public alarm particularly significant.

‘This blackout is deliberate’

Kasim accused the Pakistani state of imposing an unofficial ban on all family contact for more than a month, despite court-ordered permissions. He alleges the secrecy surrounding Imran Khan indicates more than routine security.

“This absolute blackout is not a protocol — it is a deliberate attempt to hide his condition and prevent our family from knowing whether he is safe.”

He warned that the government and “its handlers” would be held accountable legally, morally and internationally for Imran Khan’s wellbeing.

PTI demands proof of life as rumors spread online

PTI leaders have echoed Kasim’s claims, demanding immediate family access and an official confirmation of Imran Khan’s condition. Amid the information void, unverified social media speculation — including claims that Khan has been harmed or killed — has surged.

Tensions escalated outside Adiala Jail on November 25, where hundreds of supporters and three of Khan’s sisters staged a sit-in demanding access. The demonstration swelled into the thousands, with the party accusing police forces of assaulting family members and protesters during earlier attempts to secure a meeting.

Jail authorities have since assured the family that access will be granted, with Khan’s sisters expected to meet him later today and again next week.

Govt denies allegations, says Imran is ‘comfortable’

Pakistan’s administration has pushed back forcefully. Adiala Jail officials told reporters that Imran Khan is in good health and receiving “full medical care and proper facilities.”

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif went further, insisting the former prime minister’s jail accommodation included privileges that “do not exist even in five-star hotels” — including a velvet mattress, personal television, exercise equipment and a curated meal plan.

The government has dismissed circulating rumors as “politically motivated destabilization.”

A deepening political fault line

Imran Khan’s incarceration — and now the claims of disappearance-style isolation — have intensified fears of democratic erosion in Pakistan. His supporters argue the silence surrounding his condition is meant to break his political momentum ahead of a crucial election cycle.

For now, families and followers wait — not for a court verdict, but for something more basic: confirmation he is alive and safe.