Where Is Imran Khan? Fears Grow Over Former Pakistan PM i...

By Jordan King and Shane CroucherShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

A Pakistani senator demanded "immediate access" to the country's imprisoned former prime minister, Imran Khan, as fears grow over his well-being. Khan's family and friends say they have had no contact with Khan for three weeks.

Khan is serving out a sentence for various corruption convictions, which he and his supporters say were politically motivated charges and without merit. The former international cricketer, a towering figure in Pakistani politics, is also barred from holding office.

"Immediate access to Imran Khan MUST be granted now," said Senator Faisal Javed Khan, who belongs to Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, in a post on X. "He remains in extreme isolation in Jail. No meetings with family members, sisters, Personal doctors, party people and even his lawyers. Not even allowed telephonic contact with his own children."

The lawmaker added: "This is deliberate incommunicado detention and a clear violation of basic human rights, Pakistan’s Constitution, and UN standards. The nation is anxious. End the isolation. Allow family (including phone calls to his children), lawyers, doctors, and party leaders immediate and full access."

The jail in which Khan is being held has denied social media rumors about his mistreatment or demise, or that he had been transferred to a different prison. “There is no truth to reports about his transfer from Adiala Jail,” a statement from the prison said, Pakistan Today reported. “He is fully healthy and under constant medical supervision.”

This is a developing article. Updates to follow.