Imran Khan kept in dark cell, isolated; no weekly calls to sons: Ex-wife Jemima

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan 's ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith made a long post on X expressing concern over the recent developments regarding Imran Khan and his family. Jemima said the Pakistan authorities have stopped all visits to him by Imran's family and his lawyers. All court hearings have been stopped and now Imran is not allowed to make weekly calls to their sons, Sulaiman and Kasim -- who are based in London.

Jemima said she had come to know that the authorities are torturing Imran Khan by completely isolating him. "We have received reports that the authorities have now turned off the lights and electricity in his cell and he is no longer allowed to leave his cell at any time. The jail cook has been sent on leave. He is now completely isolated, in solitary confinement, literally in the dark, with no contact with the outside world. His lawyers are concerned about his safety and well-being," Jemima wrote.

"These actions come in the context of ongoing targeting of Imran’s family, as well as his party (PTI) members and supporters in an attempt to silence them and all political opposition in Pakistan.

In the last few weeks there have been serious and concerning developments regarding my sons’ father, Imran Khan’s treatment in prison. The Pakistan authorities have stopped all visits to him by his family and his lawyers. They have also postponed all court hearings. In addition…

— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) October 15, 2024

"Imran’s nephew, Hassan Niazi, a civilian, has been detained in military custody since August 2023. More recently, Imran Khan’s sisters, Uzma and Aleema Khan, who have continued to speak out on his behalf, have also been arrested as they made their way peacefully to a demonstration and they are currently being held in jail, despite there being no proper or lawful basis for their imprisonment," Jemima wrote calling for the release of Imran Khan, his sisters and nephews and to allow Imran to contact with his sons.

72-year-old Imran Khan has been in jail since August 2023 after being convicted in nearly 200 cases slapped on him since his ouster from the government in April 2022. In May this year, Imran Khan was granted bail in land corruption cases but has been languishing in jail as he is serving time in two other cases.

On Tuesday, Imran Khan's personal physician Dr Asim Hussain was not allowed to examine the former prime minister. Dr Hussain arrived at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi but had to leave without checking him.