Islamabad – Jemima Goldsmith, the ex-wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, is raising alarm over her former husband's health and treatment in prison, calling for his immediate release and the lifting of restrictions on his family visits. In a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter) on October 16, Goldsmith expressed her concerns, stating that recent actions taken by the Pakistani authorities seem aimed at silencing Khan and suppressing political opposition in the country. Imran Khan, 72, has been imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for over a year, facing multiple charges, some resulting in convictions.
The Punjab provincial government recently imposed a ban on Khan meeting with family members, lawyers, and party leaders until October 18, citing “security concerns.” This decision coincides with Pakistan hosting the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), raising questions about the timing and motives behind such restrictions. Goldsmith, who was married to Khan from 1995 to 2004 and shares two sons with him, described the situation as "serious and concerning."
She reported that visits from family and legal representatives have been halted, and all court hearings have been postponed. Notably, she revealed that Khan’s weekly calls to their sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, have been cut off since September 10, defying a previous court order. In her post, Goldsmith alleged that Khan has been placed in solitary confinement with “no contact with the outside world.” She claimed that prison authorities have turned off the lights and electricity in his cell and that the jail cook has been sent on leave, leaving Khan isolated and in the dark.
Goldsmith fears these actions are part of a broader crackdown on Khan’s family and supporters, with reports of his nephew, Hassan Niazi, being detained in military custody since August and his sisters recently arrested during a peaceful demonstration. Addressing the severity of the situation, Goldsmith urgently called for the release of Imran Khan, his sisters, and nephew, as well as for the restoration of contact between Khan and his sons to ensure their father’s well-being. While Goldsmith has publicly disagreed with Khan on various political matters, she emphasized in a follow-up post that her concerns transcend politics. “This is about my children’s father, his human rights & international law.”
Goldsmith also revealed that she has faced harassment and threats from members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Khan’s political rival, further complicating her stance amid an already volatile political climate. The PML-N is currently leading the ruling coalition in Pakistan, and Khan's supporters allege that the party is taking aggressive measures to eliminate the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. As tensions rise and the political landscape becomes increasingly fraught, Goldsmith’s call for action underscores the urgent need for transparency and humane treatment within the justice system, as the fate of Imran Khan and his political legacy hangs in the balance.