Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Imran Khan’s sons say they fear for their father’s deteriorating health in a Pakistani jail and are seeking permission to visit the former prime minister, urging authorities to grant access after more than two years apart.
Khan’s lawyer told Pakistan’s Supreme Court last week that the ex-cricketer had lost significant vision in his right eye while in custody. A medical board said on February 16 the swelling had reduced after treatment and his vision had improved. Speaking to Reuters in London, where they are based, Khan’s sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, 26 and 29, said they were uncertain about the medical report. They spoke to their father last week for the first time since September.
They said their father usually avoids discussing his health, but during the call he expressed frustration, saying he had been denied treatment for his eye for a few months.
Authorities say medical procedures are under way and reject opposition claims of neglect. The Supreme Court has sought details of his treatment. Khan, 73, has been jailed since August 2023 after convictions he and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party call politically motivated. Since his 2022 ouster in a no-confidence vote, he has faced multiple cases, including over state gifts and an unlawful marriage. Some convictions have been suspended or overturned, with appeals pending. He denies wrongdoing.
Kasim and Sulaiman were raised in Britain after Khan’s divorce from their mother, British socialite and filmmaker Jemima Goldsmith. They have not seen their father since November 2022 after he survived an assassination attempt. They said they applied for visas last month but have yet to receive a response.
