ISLAMABAD:
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has said the children of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan will have to enter Pakistan after obtaining visas “if they are not Pakistani citizens”. Chaudhry was talking to reporters in the Parliament House on Friday.
On July 9, Imran’s sister — Aleema Kham — announced that PTI founder’s family members including his sons Kasim and Sulaiman would be part of a protest movement soon.
Speaking to the media, Aleema had said that Imran would lead the protest from behind bars. “Imran Khan has said that he will lead the protest movement. He is free while in jail but we are prisoners despite being outside,” she said.
She added that his sons, Suleman and Kasim, would join the movement in support of their father after visiting the United States.
Commenting on the move, PM’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the former prime minister’s sonswho reside in the United Kingdom with Imran’s first wife Jemima Goldsmithwould be arrested if they joined the PTI protest in Pakistan.
Jemima took to X to condemn the statement. “This doesn’t happen in a democracy or a functioning state. This isn’t politics. It’s a personal vendetta,” she said on Thursday.
Responding to a question with regard to participation of Imran’s family in the upcoming protest, the state minister said along with his sons, “Imran’s [alleged] daughter [Tyrian White] should also come to Pakistan.”
“If they are Pakistani citizens, then visa restrictions will still apply. No local or foreign individual will be allowed to come to Pakistan and take the law into their own hands,” he added. Chaudhry claimed that Imran’s former in-lawsthe Goldsmith familycontinue to support the PTI founder to this day.
Separately, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also stated that the children of Imran Khan are not beyond the reach of the law, and if they attempt to take the law into their own hands, they will face legal consequences like any other citizen.
According to a report, Kundi noted that holding peaceful demonstrations was everyone’s right, including the children of the PTI founder but added that “if they cross the legal line, the law will take its course.”
Commenting on the dual nationality status of the PTI founder’s children, the governor said if they do not hold Pakistani citizenship, then the matter may fall under the purview of the British High Commission.
However, he stressed that no one is exempt from Pakistani law. “Just as British law applies to Pakistanis in the UK, Pakistani law will apply to British citizens present in Pakistan,” he remarked.
Earlier, in May, Suleman and Kasim had publicly addressed their father’s imprisonment and called for international pressure on Pakistan to secure his release.
This was the first instance that the brothers spoke out about their father’s situation, despite being reportedly allowed contact with him weekly since November 2023. According to Imran’s sons, these calls were inconsistent and difficult to arrange.
In an interview with X (formerly Twitter) influencer Mario Nawfal, the brothers explained why they decided to break their silence.
(WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)
