Aleema Khan said her family is demanding the rights of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan rather than their own rights.
The statement follows escalating tensions regarding the treatment of the former leader, who remains imprisoned in Adiala Jail. The family's public rejection of the government's narrative signals a deepening conflict over the state's handling of political prisoners and their access to essential medical care.
Speaking at a press briefing in Islamabad on June 25, 2024, Aleema Khan rejected the official account of her brother's condition. She said the government is misrepresenting the health situation and denying proper medical care. "We do not accept the government's version of events," she said [1].
Health concerns have centered on a recurring eye ailment that required Imran Khan to be taken to the hospital for the fifth time [1]. Reports on the severity of the condition vary. While some sources describe a general deterioration of health, The New York Times reported that he has lost 85% of vision in his right eye due to delayed treatment [3].
Aleema Khan said the former prime minister is being mistreated while in custody. "They are torturing him," she said [2].
These health crises occur against a backdrop of lengthy legal battles. Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison on corruption charges [4]. His family continues to maintain that the legal proceedings, and the subsequent conditions of his imprisonment, are politically motivated.
During the briefing, Aleema Khan said the family's focus remains on the basic human rights of the former prime minister. "We are demanding the rights of Imran Khan, not our own," she said [1].
“"We are demanding the rights of Imran Khan, not our own."”
The public dispute over Imran Khan's health and treatment highlights the volatile relationship between Pakistan's current administration and the former prime minister's supporters. By framing the issue as a matter of fundamental rights rather than political negotiation, the family is attempting to internationalize the concern over his medical condition and legal detention.
