Imran Khan with his former brother-in-law Zac Goldsmith outside the Kingston Mosque, London, in 2009. PHOTO: Newsquest SL
Zac Goldsmith, former UK foreign minister and former brother-in-law of PTI founder Imran Khan, raised concerns in the UK parliament over Khan’s treatment in prison, urging the UK government to ensure he receives fair treatment as his health deteriorates.
Speaking on a motion presented by Labor’s Baroness Alexander de Cleveden, Goldsmith said that while Khan’s case was an internal matter within Pakistan, the denial of basic human rights could not be ignored.
The motion emphasized that the right to medical treatment and a fair trial were fundamental and must be respected.
Goldsmith said: “We understand that Imran Khan has been denied access to lawyers. He was denied access to his family, including his two sons, my nephews,” and that “he was denied access even to doctors. We understand that he has spent much of his time in prison, in solitary confinement, and that his health is rapidly deteriorating.
He also raised the possibility of reviewing British aid to Pakistan.
“Pakistan is often at the top of the list for British aid until that country’s government demonstrates a clear and unambiguous commitment to the Commonwealth Charter to which it has adhered, which commits it to an independent judiciary and the rule of law,” he said.
Khan has been in custody since August 2023 and is serving a sentence in Adiala Prison in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces ongoing trials under the anti-terrorism law in connection with the May 9, 2023 protests.
A day earlier, Khan’s sister Aleema Khan criticized the PTI leadership for what she described as inaction regarding her brother’s release and health.
“The party seems relaxed, as if the founder’s treatment has already ended. We do not see any action from the PTI on his health issues. Enough is enough – anyone who cannot bear the weight of the founder’s narrative should step down,” she said while speaking to reporters outside the Islamabad High Court.
