London, March 17: Jemima Goldsmith, the former wife of Pakistan’s ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, has made a public appeal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding her sons’ inability to obtain visas to visit their father. Suleman Khan and Qasim Khan submitted their visa applications over two months ago but have yet to receive approval.
In a detailed post on social media platform X, Goldsmith highlighted that the Pakistan Consulate has not processed their applications, despite the official timeline for online visas being 7 to 10 working days.
Goldsmith expressed her distress over the delay, particularly since Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and the Prime Minister’s spokesperson, Musarrat Zaidi, had assured international media that Imran Khan’s sons would be able to visit Pakistan safely after four years.
She further stated that her sons have not been allowed to communicate with their father via phone or letters. Since the assassination attempt on Imran Khan in 2022, they have not seen him.
In her appeal, Goldsmith emphasized that reports of Khan’s deteriorating health have exacerbated the situation. She urged the Pakistani government to grant permission for the PTI chief to meet his sons “as soon as possible.”
The prolonged silence from authorities has left the family in a state of uncertainty, despite repeated assurances that there would be no restrictions on Imran Khan’s sons.
This issue has heightened concerns among Khan’s supporters and human rights groups regarding the conditions of his detention and the restrictions placed on communication with his family and legal team.
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since 2023, facing multiple convictions, including charges related to corruption and handling classified documents. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has consistently claimed that these cases are politically motivated, aimed at removing Khan from the political landscape.
Since his incarceration, family members, including his sons living abroad, have faced significant challenges in securing visits. His lawyers have also reported difficulties in meeting him and have accused the Pakistani military of imposing strict controls over who can visit him and when.
International observers have criticized these restrictions, citing a lack of transparency in Imran Khan’s detention and a failure to uphold the basic rights of those in custody.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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