- Kasim says he tried to travel to Pakistan but was “denied a visa”.
- “Denying treatment to a prisoner is cruel,” says Kasim.
- The statement comes amid controversy over Imran’s health.
Kasim Khan, the son of the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, imprisoned in Pakistan, has claimed that he and his brother are trying to travel to Pakistan to see their father, but the government is deliberately refusing to process their visa applications.
In a statement published on X, Kasim said Imran was held in “solitary confinement” for 914 days, during which his health deteriorated and he was denied access to independent medical care.
He said denying medical care to a prisoner was “cruel” and preventing his children from seeing him amounted to collective punishment.
Kasim called on international human rights organizations and governments to speak out and take action “before irreversible harm is caused.”
The statement comes amid recent controversy surrounding Imran’s health.
He recently underwent an eye procedure at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, where doctors confirmed that pressure in blood vessels had affected his vision. The PTI accused the government of hiding details of his health for several days.
Note that Kasim and his brother Suleiman said in December 2025 that they had submitted visa applications and intended to travel to Pakistan in January.
Imran’s sons have repeatedly claimed that their father was held in a “death cell” at Adiala prison in conditions they described as “horrible”, with prolonged restrictions on communication. They said court-mandated contact was not routinely permitted.
The meetings with the PTI founder remain a subject of contention between the party and the government. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that a general ban on meeting the incarcerated politician had been in effect since December 2025.
Kasim publicly highlighted his father’s imprisonment for the first time in May 2025. In June 2025, he spoke to X to express his concern over Imran’s detention status. In another article, he criticized the ruling government for what he described as the imprisonment and “torture” of his father.
The sons later said they feared authorities were hiding “something irreversible” about their father’s condition after more than three weeks without proof he was still alive.
The family had also requested access to Imran’s personal doctor, who they say has not been allowed to examine him for more than a year.
However, the Adiala Prison administration clarified that Imran enjoys all facilities available to “Class B” prisoners under the law, including tailor-made meals, healthcare, reading materials, exercise and walks.
Imran, 72, has been in prison since August 2023 after being convicted in several cases, which he says are politically motivated following his impeachment by a parliamentary vote in 2022.
His first conviction was related to allegations of illegal sale of state gifts, commonly known as the Toshakhana affair. Subsequent verdicts added lengthy prison terms, including 10 years for leaking a diplomatic cable and 14 years in a corruption case linked to the Al-Qadir Trust. Prosecutors say the charity was involved in improper land deals.
Imran remains incarcerated as legal proceedings continue, with his conviction in the Toshakhana-2 case marking the latest setback. He faces dozens of cases filed since 2022, ranging from corruption to anti-terrorism and state secrets. He has denied all allegations, which his party says are politically motivated.
The PTI maintains that the prosecution is aimed at excluding Imran Khan from public life and elections.
