It has been more than a year and a half since Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was jailed, but for the last few weeks there has been such silence about him that his family itself has become nervous. TV channels have been stopped from showing his name and picture. There is no recent glimpse of Imran even on the internet. In this environment, his sons have openly said for the first time that they fear that they are being hidden.
Qasim Khan, who lives in London, says he last saw his father in November 2022. At that time Imran Khan was attacked. The family is also seeking help from international human rights organizations. Their demand is that the meeting should be resumed immediately as per the court order, the doctor should be allowed for health checkup and an official update should be given on the condition of Imran Khan.
Where is Imran Khan?
Imran Khan’s son Qasim Khan told Reuters that the family had not found any evidence for three weeks to believe that he was alive. He says that not knowing whether your father is safe, injured or even alive or not. This is a kind of mental torture.
According to Qasim, the court had ordered to meet once a week but the jail administration is continuously postponing the meetings.
Even his personal doctor was not allowed to meet him for a year. The jail administration has claimed that Imran Khan is fine, but this claim is coming only from unnamed officials. No official or visual proof.
Ban on TV, pictures disappear from internet
The family, especially Qasim, is more frightened by the fact that Imran Khan has been completely banished from the public space. There has been a ban on showing names and pictures on TV channels. Many channels of Pakistan have been asked not to take the name of Imran Khan. Do not play their photos or videos, do not show any statements or reactions.
The result is that the last clear picture of Khan is an old, blurry court photo circulating on the internet. The family alleges that this isolation is being done deliberately. He is the most favorite leader of the people, and the government knows that he cannot be defeated democratically.
Why is Imran Khan in jail for 2 years?
Imran Khan is in jail since August 2023. He has been sentenced in several cases, including Toshakhana case, secret cable leaking case (10 years imprisonment), Al-Qadir Trust case (14 years imprisonment). Imran Khan and his party PTI say that all these cases were made out of political vendetta so that they can be kept out of politics and elections.
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