Jemima Goldsmith Issues Urgent Statement on Ex-Husband Imran Khan’s Treatment in Pakistani Prison.

Jemima Goldsmith, the British filmmaker and journalist, has released a deeply concerning statement about the treatment of her ex-husband, Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned in Pakistan. The statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter), outlines alarming conditions faced by the former cricket star and Pakistani Prime Minister, accusing the authorities of cutting off his access to family, legal counsel, and basic necessities.

@Jemima_Khan

Goldsmith expressed her deep concern for Khan's well-being, stating, "In the last few weeks, there have been serious and concerning developments regarding my sons’ father, Imran Khan’s treatment in prison." She detailed that Pakistani authorities have stopped all visits to Khan by his family and lawyers, postponed court hearings, and in violation of a court order, halted his weekly phone calls to their sons, Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, both of whom live in London. The calls were stopped on 10th September, further isolating him from his loved ones.

Imran Khan - June 2023

Even more troubling, Goldsmith reported that Khan is now being kept in complete solitary confinement. She revealed that authorities have turned off the lights and electricity in his cell, sent the prison cook on leave, and barred him from leaving his cell at any time. "He is now completely isolated, in solitary confinement, literally in the dark, with no contact with the outside world. His lawyers are concerned about his safety and well-being," she wrote.

Goldsmith’s statement comes amid growing concerns about political repression in Pakistan, where Khan’s family and supporters have faced increasing pressure. Khan’s nephew, Hassan Niazi, was detained in military custody in August 2023, and most recently, Khan’s sisters, Uzma and Aleema Khan, were arrested while attempting to attend a peaceful demonstration. Despite no lawful grounds for their detention, they remain in jail.

The situation has drawn international scrutiny. In June 2023, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared Imran Khan’s imprisonment as unlawful and arbitrary, calling for his immediate release—a call that has so far gone unheeded by the Pakistani authorities.

Goldsmith’s statement concluded with a heartfelt plea, urging the authorities to release Khan, his sisters, and his nephew. She also called for the resumption of contact between Khan and his sons, emphasising the need for assurance of his safety and well-being.

This latest statement from Jemima Goldsmith adds to the mounting concern over Imran Khan's treatment and the broader political crackdown in Pakistan, raising questions about human rights and the future of political opposition in the country.

Statement released on X by Jemima Khan at 12:33 PM on October 15, 2024

"In the last few weeks there have been serious and concerning developments regarding my sons’ father, Imran Khan’s treatment in prison. The Pakistan authorities have stopped all visits to him by his family and his lawyers. They have also postponed all court hearings. In addition to cutting off in- person visits, and in defiance of a court order, his weekly calls to his sons, Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, who are British and who live in London, were stopped on 10th September. We have received reports that the authorities have now turned off the lights and electricity in his cell and he is no longer allowed to leave his cell at any time. The jail cook has been sent on leave. He is now completely isolated, in solitary confinement, literally in the dark, with no contact with the outside world. His lawyers are concerned about his safety and well-being.   These actions come in the context of ongoing targeting of Imran’s family, as well as his party (PTI) members and supporters in an attempt to silence them and all political opposition in Pakistan. Imran’s nephew, Hassan Niazi, a civilian, has been detained in military custody since August 2023. More recently, Imran Khan’s sisters, Uzma and Aleema Khan, who have continued to speak out on his behalf, have also been arrested as they made their way peacefully to a demonstration and they are currently being held in jail, despite there being no proper or lawful basis for their imprisonment.   In June this year the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that Imran is unlawfully and arbitrarily detained and called for his immediate release.    As a matter of urgency , we are calling for Imran Khan’s release, and for the release of his sisters and nephew as well as for his sons’ contact with their father to be re-established, so that they may have assurance first-hand that he is well and not being mistreated."