Geneva [Switzerland], March 28 (ANI): At the sidelines of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Imran Khan’s sons Kasim and Sulaiman Khan gave an emotional and forceful statement, accusing Pakistani authorities of keeping their father in “unjust and inhumane” conditions.
Sulaiman said his father has been detained for nearly 1,000 days and noted that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has deemed the imprisonment “arbitrary.” He also cited the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, who warned that the conditions of detention could amount to torture.
The brothers urged immediate international intervention and demanded access for Imran Khan to legal counsel, regular family visits and independent medical care.
They described Khan as confined in a small solitary cell under constant surveillance and living in poor conditions, including persistent insect infestation, which they said has continued for more than two and a half years.
Kasim alleged that his father is being targeted for challenging the military’s role in politics. He said family contact has been minimal, with months passing without communication; their last brief phone call was abruptly cut off, he added.
The brothers accused Pakistani authorities of denying them visas to visit their father, calling the refusals “collective punishment” and a violation of basic human rights.
They placed Imran Khan’s detention in the context of a broader pattern of repression since 2022, alleging that thousands of political workers remain detained, civilians are tried in military courts, and journalists face intimidation, abduction or exile.
The siblings also questioned the credibility of Pakistan’s February 2024 general elections, alleging manipulation designed to prevent Imran Khan’s party from returning to power.
Invoking Pakistan’s international commitments under the GSP-plus framework, they said the country is party to treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention Against Torture, and argued that detention without adequate care or access, as well as trying civilians in military courts, violates those obligations.
In closing, Kasim and Sulaiman said they were forced to speak out despite not being politically active, citing their father’s deteriorating health and prolonged isolation. They urged the international community to take notice, ensure accountability, and said they will continue their efforts until Imran Khan is released. (ANI)
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