Category: 1. Pakistan

RAWALPINDI:

Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has rejected claims that the former prime minister stopped his children from visiting Pakistan, clarifying that they were unable to travel after losing their National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPs).

“Imran Khan did not stop his children from coming to Pakistan. This is a lie. They already have NICOP cards, but they were lost. His children have applied for new NICOPs and visas,” Aleema told reporters outside Adiala Jail on Saturday.

A day earlier, In a statement shared on X, Aleema revealed that Sulaiman and Kasim had submitted their visa applications a few days ago. She said the High Commission had confirmed receipt of the applications and conveyed that their approval was pending with the Ministry of Interior.

However, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has raised questions regarding the nationality status of former prime minister Imran Khan’s children, citing Aleema’s earlier statement that the children hold National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP).

Responding to her post on X, Chaudhry said, “You previously stated that the children hold NICOPs. If that is true, they do not require visas to enter Pakistan. If they do need visas, that means they are not ‘Pakistani Nationals.’ What is the real truth behind it all?”

Read More: Imran’s son’s visa case takes new turn

Further speaking on the matter outside Adiala Jail, Aleema added that she had the tracking numbers of the visa applications, contradicting embassy officials’ claims that no such requests were made.

“It is surprising that the embassy says no applications were filed. A friend called the ambassador, who said permission was needed from the Interior Ministry. I told them to get it from Mohsin Naqvi if necessary. Later, they said the Foreign Ministry must issue the visas. Now the ambassador is not responding,” she noted, adding that in emergencies visas are usually granted within an hour.

When asked about Mishal Yousafzai’s appointment as senator, Aleema said, “I don’t want to waste my time discussing such people. My view is that justice should have been done. If it were about merit, many others besides Mishal Yousafzai qualified.”

On the broader political climate, Aleema relayed a message from Imran Khan, saying, “First the mandate was stolen, then democracy was undermined. The media has been silenced, and after the 26th amendment, the judiciary has been reduced to a state institution with no independent authority. Judges now only do what they are told.”

She further criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), comparing them to the former Q League, and accused them of continuing “loot and plunder.”

Commenting on the security situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, she said Imran Khan had sent a message through PTI leader Ali Amin opposing a planned operation in the province. She added that Khan believes Pakistan must maintain good relations with Afghanistan as a neighbouring country.

Aleema stressed that PTI’s ongoing movement is not linked to Khan’s children but to his release. “We are working for our brother’s release. We have been coming to court for two years. If they want to arrest us, they can. The movement will continue until Imran Khan is free.”

Also Read: PTI dismisses claims of Imran Khan barring sons from visiting Pakistan

She concluded by criticising the government for barring Imran Khan’s sons from entering Pakistan. “Why is the government not allowing his sons to come? They must be given visas,” she said.

Earlier this month, Khan’s sister Aleema Khan had told reporters that Sulaiman and Qasim would participate in the protest movement. “They will first go to the United States to raise awareness about the injustices faced by their father and then take part in the movement in Pakistan,” she had said.

Reports also suggested that the brothers had held meetings with key individuals in the United States ahead of their possible arrival in Pakistan.

However, the issue has drawn reactions from the government as well. Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah warned that Khan’s sons, who reside in the United Kingdom with their mother Jemima Goldsmith, would be arrested if they participated in the protest.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the establishment of dedicated immigration counters for foreign travellers at all international airports in Pakistan, according to a press release by the PM Office Media Wing.

This initiative aims to enhance the travel experience for international visitors and promote tourism, stated the press release. 

Additionally, it seeks to facilitate ongoing trade activities and simplify the process for foreign investors looking to visit and conduct business in the country, according to the press release.

“The decision has been taken to promote tourism in Pakistan, ensure continuity in business activities, and provide further facilitation to foreign investment,” the press release stated.

The separation of immigration queues is expected not only to reduce processing times for foreigners but also, as an indirect benefit, to expedite the clearance of Pakistani citizens returning home.

“The government’s initiative is part of a broader strategy to make Pakistan more attractive and welcoming for global tourists, investors, and business delegations,” it added.

Sulaiman and Kasim Khan — sons of former prime minister Imran Khan — have appealed for international attention to what they describe as their father’s “inhumane” incarceration, calling particularly on US President Donald Trump to use his influence to support his release.

In a wide-ranging interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, the two brothers expressed deep concern over the deteriorating health and prison conditions of their father, who has been in custody at Adiala Jail since August 2023.

The brothers, who have largely avoided the spotlight in the past, broke their public silence over their father’s imprisonment in May this year.

The brothers said they were compelled to speak out due to the desperate circumstances surrounding their father’s detention. “We’re quite private people… but it’s getting to a stage where we’re desperate. We want to do whatever we can,” said Kasim.

Sulaiman and Kasim revealed that they have not seen their father in nearly three years, and have not spoken to him for over four months.

Read More: Imran being kept in ‘poor conditions’, says Kasim Khan

“A Pakistani court mandated weekly phone calls, but we would sometimes go two or three months without contact,” said Sulaiman. “Often, we’d receive a message at 2am saying we would speak to him at 9am. If we missed that, the chance was gone — it rolled on another two months.”

The brothers said they had not been allowed a single phone call since their last public interview, suggesting that authorities were using this to “cause him further distress.”

Describing Khan’s current conditions in jail, the brothers alleged he was confined to a small cell for 22 hours a day with limited access to books, his legal team, and even his physician.

“He’s washing himself with visibly murky, discoloured water. The hygiene levels are abysmal,” said Kasim. “Ten people have died in that prison due to hepatitis C, which is believed to have spread through unsanitary conditions.”

They also alleged that authorities had restricted access to the few books Khan was allowed to read, and said his physical and mental well-being was increasingly at risk.

Also Read: Iranian president lands in Pakistan on first official visit

“There have been moments where I’ve thought: am I going to see him again?” Kasim said quietly. “This is the longest I’ve gone without speaking to him. The fear is very real.”

Sulaiman and Kasim called on the international community — particularly US President Trump — to use his influence to support their father’s release.

“If anyone can make a difference, it’s him,” said Sulaiman. “Trump and my father had a great relationship when both were in office. They respected each other, and we know he’s one of the few people who could get the establishment in Pakistan to act.”

They also acknowledged support from US Special Presidential Envoy Richard Grenell, who has publicly advocated for Khan’s release on social media.

“We would love to speak to Trump or find some way he could help. At the end of the day, all we want is to free our father, restore democracy in Pakistan, and ensure his basic human rights are respected,” Sulaiman said.

Read: Pakistan Army inducts Z-10ME attack helicopters under COAS’ supervision

The brothers said they had explored the possibility of visiting Pakistan to see their father but were warned by sources within the Pakistani government and their own extended network that they would likely be arrested upon arrival.

“We still applied for visas and haven’t received any response yet,” they said, adding that they remained hopeful of travelling to Pakistan when circumstances allowed.

When asked if they wanted to send a message to the authorities in Pakistan, Sulaiman urged the country’s leaders to respect democracy and the rule of law.

“We’d urge Pakistan’s leaders to respect democracy, respect the will of the Pakistani people — which was clear despite the massive rigging in February’s elections — and to give him a fair trial,” said Sulaiman Khan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the establishment of separate immigration counters for foreign passengers at all international airports across Pakistan to improve their travel experience.

The decision, announced via a press release on Saturday by the PM Office Media Wing, aims to boost tourism and streamline the immigration process for international visitors.

The initiative is also intended to ensure the continuity of trade activities and make it easier for foreign investors to visit and conduct business in Pakistan.

“The decision has been taken to promote tourism in Pakistan, ensure continuity in business activities, and provide further facilitation to foreign investment,” the press release stated.

The separation of immigration queues is expected not only to reduce processing times for foreigners but also, as an indirect benefit, to expedite the clearance of Pakistani citizens returning home.

“The government’s initiative is part of a broader strategy to make Pakistan more attractive and welcoming for global tourists, investors, and business delegations,” it added.

PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khanum, clarified on Saturday that his sons have applied for National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (Nicops) as well as visas to visit Pakistan.

Imran, imprisoned since August 2023, is serving a sentence at the Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case and also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the protests of May 9, 2023. His sons, Sulaiman Khan and Kasim Khan, have been protesting his incarceration, but uncertainty remains as to whether they will be visiting Pakistan.

A day ago, Aleema said they had applied for visas and were waiting for approval from the interior ministry. That had prompted Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry to ask why they would need visas if they had the Nicop, as she had previously said.

Clarifying the matter today while speaking to reporters at Adiala Jail, she said: “The Nicop of one [of the brothers] is missing and the other can’t find his card so they’ve submitted two applications: one to issue their Nicop, which is valid for the next six to seven years … and they have also applied for the visa which can be issued within an hour.

“It’s their choice. They have Nicop, they have British passports. So what issue do they (the interior ministry) have in issuing a visa?”

She stated that she had access to tracking numbers for the applications, challenging claims that the applications were not received.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry said the siblings would be treated as dual nationals if they arrived on the basis of the Nicop. “If they choose to seek consular assistance as British citizens, they are still entitled to do so regardless of whether they entered on a Visa or Nicop.”

Sulaiman, 28, and Kasim, 26, called attention to their father’s incarceration for the first time publicly in May. Last month, Aleema said they would go to the United States before coming to Pakistan as part of a movement calling for the ex-premier’s release. The siblings visited the US and engaged US lawmakers on the issue of their father’s incarceration.

Earlier this week, the PTI swiftly rubbished media reports claiming that the incarcerated leader told reporters at Adiala Jail that his sons would not be coming to Pakistan and taking part in or leading any protest.

Although the government has not officially commented on the matter of Imran’s sons, Chaudhry previously questioned what, if any, role they would be able to play, adding that they were welcome to visit Pakistan and there would be no obstacle for them. He continued that visas would be issued to them “in less than 24 hours”, provided they stayed within the law.

Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik had told Dawn.com that Article 16 of the Constitution, which grants the right to gather, was applicable to citizens and foreigners are not allowed to assemble in Pakistan.

Malik also said that the two brothers could not legally participate in local political activity as they were British nationals, and that if they “violate the visa conditions, the visa can be cancelled”.

There were conflicting statements from PML-N leaders as well on whether the duo would be allowed entry into Pakistan, with Senator Irfan Siddiqui saying they should be allowed to come and “carry out their activities”, but within the limitations of the law.

• Tribal elders fully endorse army’s zero-tolerance policy for peace.
• They pay rich tribute to forces for their unparalleled sacrifices.
• Jirga lauds military’s resolve to eliminate Fitna-al-Khawarij.

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Tribal elders in North Waziristan on Saturday announced their support for the Pakistan Army in the fight against Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij.

The resolve came during a jirga of tribal elders held in Miranshah, North Waziristan with the support of Pakistan Army, Geo News reported.

The tribal elders fully endorsed the Pakistan Army’s zero-tolerance policy for the establishment of peace and elimination of Fitna-al-Khawarij.

Participants paid rich tribute to the security forces and martyrs for their unparalleled sacrifices. They assured to extend full cooperation to authorities in confronting Fitna-al-Khawarij and militant elements.

Addressing a separate jirga held at CM House, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said that the purpose of the jirga was to consult with the tribes on the restoration of peace.

The chief minsiter said that a 20-member jirga from the merged distaricts would prepare a comprehesive strategy for restoration of peace and present it before the government and the military leadership.         

The country has been reeling under increased terrorist attacks targeting especially the law enforcers and security forces since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, particularly in the bordering provinces of KP and Balochistan.

The country witnessed a sharp increase in terror attacks in January 2025, surging by 42% compared to the previous month, according to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), a think tank.