Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, said that his sons have applied for Pakistani visas. She shared on social media that Suleman and Qasim submitted their visa applications a few days ago at the Pakistani High Commission in London. The ambassador told them that they are waiting for approval from the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad before they can travel to Pakistan.
Suleman Khan (28 years old) and Qasim Khan (26 years old) had first spoken out in May to bring attention to their father’s imprisonment. Last month, Aleema Khan said the two brothers would first go to the US as part of a campaign for their father’s release, and later visit Pakistan. They did visit the US and met with lawmakers there to discuss Imran Khan’s jail situation.
Imran Khan has been in prison since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence in Adiala Jail related to the 190 million pounds corruption case. He is also facing other cases under the anti-terrorism law linked to the May 9, 2023 protests.
Aleema Khan has previously said that both sons will definitely come to Pakistan, as they have NADRA-issued Overseas Pakistani ID cards and are considered Pakistani citizens.
She also told journalists that if anything happens to Imran Khan’s sons, it could become an international issue.
On the other hand, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif questioned why the government would stop Imran Khan’s sons from visiting Pakistan.
Earlier this week, PTI rejected some media reports that claimed Imran Khan told journalists in jail that his sons would not come to Pakistan or take part in any protests or leadership roles.
So far, the government has not given any official statement on the matter. However, Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, had previously questioned what role the two sons would play if they came. He also said they would be welcomed and face no restrictions. If they follow the law, their visas can be issued in less than 24 hours.
Minister of State for Law and Justice, Barrister Aqeel Malik, told Dawn News that the right to gather or protest, under Article 16 of the Constitution, only applies to Pakistani citizens. Foreign nationals are not allowed to hold gatherings in Pakistan.
He added that since both brothers are British citizens, they cannot legally take part in political activities in Pakistan. If they break visa rules, their visas can be canceled.
There were also mixed statements from PML-N leaders. Senator Irfan Siddiqui said that Imran Khan’s sons should be allowed to come to Pakistan and carry out their activities within legal limits.