Pakistan: Imran Khan's Ex-Wife Alleges He's Imprisoned In Solitary Confinement

On Tuesday, the ex-wife of Pakistan's former prime minister, Imran Khan, called for his immediate release, expressing concern over "serious and worrying" reports regarding his treatment in prison.

Jemima Goldsmith stated that Pakistani authorities had halted all visits from his family and legal representatives, postponed court hearings, and prevented him from contacting his two sons since early September.

She claimed that electricity to his cell had been cut off, he was no longer permitted any time outside, and the prison cook had been placed on leave, as she detailed in a lengthy post on X.

"He is now completely isolated, in solitary confinement, literally in the dark, with no contact with the outside world," wrote Goldsmith, who was married to the former Pakistan cricket team captain from 1995 to 2004.

The couple share two sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, who reside in London.

A panel of UN experts criticised Pakistan in July for arbitrarily detaining Khan in violation of international law, seemingly to prevent him from running for political office.

Khan, 72, served as Pakistan's prime minister from 2018 to 2022, and has since faced over 200 legal cases following his removal from office in a parliamentary no-confidence vote, which he claims was orchestrated by the country's powerful military.

He has been detained since August last year and is barred from standing for office. Khan has also applied to become the next chancellor of Oxford University in the UK.

Goldsmith added that Khan's family had been targeted, with his sisters and nephew unlawfully arrested and jailed. She herself has faced threats of rape and death from her ex-husband's political adversaries.

She stressed on releasing Khan, his nephew, and sisters, along with allowing him to re-establish contact with his sons, would provide "assurance first-hand that he is well and not being mistreated."

In her comments, she noted, "I disagree with IK on many political issues," adding, "But this is not about politics -- it's about my children's father, his human rights & international law."