Imran Khan’s Party Seeks Urgent Prison Visit Amid Rising Health Concerns

ISLAMABAD: The political party of Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan has demanded immediate access to him, expressing serious concern over his health after more than three weeks without permission for family members or lawyers to visit.

Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2023, serving a 14-year sentence on corruption charges. He maintains that the cases against him, numbering in the dozens, were politically motivated to keep him out of Pakistan’s political arena, accusations the military has repeatedly denied.

Under prison rules, Khan is allowed to meet visitors at least once a week, though officials may suspend visits. According to his party, these suspensions have often stretched into weeks, raising fears about his safety and well-being.

Pakistani media reported on Thursday that authorities may transfer Khan to a high-security prison, which would further restrict access. The reports triggered widespread public concern, driving the hashtag #WHEREISIMRANKHAN to trend on social platform X.

Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has not issued any comment regarding the situation.

A prison official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, insisted that Khan is in good health and said he was unaware of any plan to relocate him to another facility. He added that he was not authorized to comment publicly.

Khan, who became prime minister in 2018, was removed from office in 2022 through a parliamentary vote after losing support from influential military leaders, a power bloc widely seen as critical in shaping Pakistan’s governments.

His arrest in May 2023 sparked nationwide protests targeting military installations, which resulted in a sweeping crackdown on his party.

Despite the turmoil, Khan’s party emerged as the largest single bloc in Pakistan’s 2024 general election. Party leaders, however, allege widespread electoral fraud that reduced their seat count and enabled rival parties to form a coalition government under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Sharif and coalition leaders strongly deny the allegations.

Khan’s supporters continue to call for transparency regarding his condition and demand that authorities allow immediate legal and family access.