Jemima Goldsmith, the British film producer and ex-wife of former Pakistani Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, has made serious allegations on social media, claiming that her sons, Qasim and Sulaiman Isa, are being denied the basic right to communicate with their father, who has been in jail for nearly two years.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Jemima stated that Imran Khan has been kept in solitary confinement and is not being allowed to speak with his children — a situation she called both inhumane and politically motivated. She further alleged that threats have been issued by Pakistani authorities, warning that if her sons travel to Pakistan to meet their father, they too will be arrested and jailed.
“This would not happen in any functioning democracy,” Jemima wrote. “This is not politics — this is a personal vendetta.”
The remarks come amid growing criticism from human rights groups and international observers regarding the treatment of Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since 2023 on multiple charges, many of which his supporters claim are politically motivated to keep him out of the electoral process.
Government officials, however, maintain a different stance. Advisor to the Prime Minister, Rana Sanaullah, has publicly stated that anyone coming from abroad with the intent to incite unrest or participate in political agitation will be arrested. He did not specifically name Imran Khan’s sons, but the timing and context of his comments are being interpreted by many as indirect references.
In a similar tone, Barrister Aqeel Malik noted that foreign nationals — even if of Pakistani origin — who apply for visas with political motives, such as campaigning or protesting, will likely be denied entry altogether.
Adding to the controversy, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N), made sarcastic comments about Qasim and Sulaiman, saying:
“If they come to Pakistan, they’ll melt in this heat — but they won’t be able to secure their father’s release.”
He emphasized that the only way Imran Khan can get out of jail is by changing his behavior and attitude, implying that confrontation with state institutions is the reason for his prolonged imprisonment.
Earlier, Imran Khan’s son Qasim also posted on X, echoing his mother’s concerns. He claimed that not only is their father denied contact with his family, but also barred from meeting his personal physician, which raises concerns about his health and safety during his long incarceration — now over 700 days.
The situation has sparked fresh debates about civil liberties, political revenge, and the state of judicial independence in Pakistan, with growing calls from abroad — especially among the Pakistani diaspora — for greater transparency and humane treatment of political prisoners.