He says everyone knows why visas are denied and why NICOP travel is recommended.
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar and Jemima Goldsmith. Photos: File
Jemima Goldsmith, ex-wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, alleged on Thursday that the government was denying visas to their sons, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan, in a bid to deprive them of British protection in the event of possible arrest upon their arrival in Pakistan.
His statement came a day after Information Minister Ataullah Tarar welcomed his sons to Pakistan using their National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP), which he said would allow them to travel visa-free.
In response to Tarar, Jemima wrote on »
We all know that the reason you are refusing their visas and recommending that they travel with NICOP cards (which they currently do not have) is because that way they will have no British protection if you choose to arrest them on arrival.
– Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) March 19, 2026
Jemima had directly appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, urging the government to allow Kasim and Sulaiman to visit their father in prison.
“My sons Sulaiman and Kasim applied (again) for a visa in January to enable them to visit their father Imran Khan in Pakistan. The Pakistan consulate says online visa processing normally takes 7-10 working days. It has now been 60 days,” she had said.
Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence in Adiala Prison in a £190 million corruption case. Additionally, he faces ongoing trials under the anti-terrorism law related to the May 9, 2023 protests.
Learn more: Imran’s sons do not need visa to travel to Pakistan
Kasim and Sulaiman have not seen their father since November 2022, after he survived an assassination attempt. They said they applied for a visa in January but have not yet received a response.
Kasim last month accused the government of deliberately refusing to process his and his brother’s visas to prevent the siblings from meeting their father. He said that denying a prisoner cruel treatment was cruel and that denying his children the right to see him was collective punishment.
Last year, Imran’s sister Aleema Khan told reporters that the brothers would take part in a protest planned for August 5, 2025.
Later, it was reported that Imran had said that his sons would not come to Pakistan to join the protest. The brothers then held meetings with key figures in the United States.
