Jemima Goldsmith has made serious allegations against the Pakistani government regarding the treatment of her former husband, ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi. According to Goldsmith, Khan is being subjected to harsh conditions in solitary confinement, with no access to electricity and limited communication. She revealed that Khan’s weekly phone calls to his two sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, who reside in London, were halted on September 10, despite a court order allowing these calls. Goldsmith stated that the authorities have also turned off the lights in his cell, and he is not permitted to leave his confinement, which has raised concerns about his safety and health.
In addition to Imran Khan’s situation, Goldsmith accused the Pakistani government of targeting his family members and political associates in what she describes as an attempt to suppress political opposition. She highlighted that Khan’s nephew, Hassan Niazi, has been detained in military custody since August 2023, and more recently, his sisters, Uzma and Aleema Khan, were arrested while peacefully heading to a demonstration in support of their brother. Goldsmith claims there is no lawful justification for their detention and called for their immediate release, along with other political prisoners.
These allegations come at a time when Pakistan is hosting the two-day SCO Summit in Islamabad, with leaders from member states, including India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, attending the event. The summit has turned Islamabad into a heavily fortified city, with heightened security measures in place. Ahead of the summit, Pakistani authorities detained hundreds of Imran Khan’s supporters who were protesting and calling for his release.
Imran Khan, who served as Pakistan’s Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022, was ousted from office through a parliamentary no-confidence vote after losing the support of the military, which plays a decisive role in Pakistan's political affairs. Since his removal from power, Khan has been embroiled in numerous legal battles and has faced multiple criminal charges. His arrest on August 5, 2023, was met with widespread protests from his supporters, and the political tension in Pakistan has only escalated since then.
Goldsmith’s accusations paint a bleak picture of Khan's current treatment in custody and raise further questions about the state of human rights and political freedom in Pakistan. She emphasized the need for fair treatment and adherence to the rule of law, urging international attention to Khan’s case and the situation of political detainees in Pakistan. The Pakistani government has not yet responded to Goldsmith's claims, but her statements have brought increased scrutiny to the actions of the Shehbaz Sharif-led administration during this politically sensitive time.
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