Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has strongly rebuked Jemima Goldsmith after she expressed concerns about her former husband, Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned, claiming that his health and safety are at risk.
In a post on X, Jemima raised alarms about the “grave and distressing” conditions Imran Khan is allegedly facing in jail. She claimed that Pakistani authorities were preventing family members and legal representatives from meeting him, with court hearings repeatedly postponed.
Khawaja Asif, in response, accused Jemima of exaggerating the situation, insisting that Imran Khan is being treated with “constant leniency,” contrasting this with the hardships opposition leaders faced during Imran’s tenure as prime minister. Asif cited the case of Nawaz Sharif, who was denied communication with his dying wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, while in prison, along with other opposition figures who were jailed without charges.
Jemima’s post also highlighted her sons’ inability to contact their father. She claimed that Imran Khan’s weekly calls to his sons, Sulaiman and Qasim, had been cut off since early September. According to her, Imran is in solitary confinement, without electricity in his cell, and his meals had been disrupted due to the prison cook’s absence.
Jemima insisted that her concerns were not politically driven but were for the sake of her children and their father’s well-being. She also mentioned the targeting of Imran Khan’s family, including his sisters Uzma and Aleema Khan, and his nephew Hassan Niazi, who have faced arrests and detentions.
Imran Khan has been jailed since August 2023 following his conviction in a corruption case. Due to security concerns at Adiala Jail, media appearances and family visits have been suspended until October 18. However, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, chairman of PTI, confirmed that medical professionals had been allowed to see Khan and assured supporters that Imran was in good health, recently completing an hour of exercise. Gohar added that medical reports would soon be released.
