LONDON -UNS : Jemima Goldsmith, former wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, has urged the British government to break its silence over what she described as serious human rights concerns surrounding Khan’s imprisonment and treatment.
In a post on X, Goldsmith directly appealed to the British prime minister and foreign secretary, asking: “How much longer will Britain remain silent?”
Goldsmith, who shares two sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, with Khan, alleged that the former premier has been subjected to prolonged isolation and restrictions on access to his family, lawyers, doctors and books.
She referred to the UN’s Nelson Mandela Rules, which set international standards for the treatment of prisoners, and argued that Khan’s alleged conditions raise serious human rights concerns.
Her statement comes amid renewed controversy over Khan’s health and medical treatment. The Supreme Court recently ordered that he be transferred from Adiala Jail to a private hospital for medical examination and treatment. Authorities, however, took him to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), citing security concerns, before returning him to Adiala Jail after a medical board reportedly declared him fit.
Goldsmith also said the Supreme Court had directed authorities to ensure appropriate medical treatment, access to Khan’s personal doctor, regular family visits and twice-weekly calls with his sons. She alleged that these directions were not being fully implemented.
Highlighting Khan’s longstanding connections with Britain, Goldsmith noted that he studied at Oxford University, played cricket there and spent years playing county cricket in England. She also referred to his charitable work, including the establishment of a cancer hospital and a university in Pakistan.
Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2023 and has faced convictions in multiple cases. He and his party maintain that the cases against him are politically motivated.
