ISLAMABAD (MNN); Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday said that the sons of former prime minister Imran Khan are welcome to visit Pakistan using their National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP), stating that no visa is required for entry.
In a post on X, Tarar responded to an appeal by Jemima Goldsmith, who had urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address delays in issuing visas to her sons, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan.
The minister added that a phone call between Imran Khan and his sons would be arranged on Eid, as has been done previously. He reiterated that as Pakistani citizens, the children could travel on NICOP but would be required to follow all local laws during their stay.
Kasim and Sulaiman, who live in London with their mother, would need to travel to Pakistan to meet their father, currently imprisoned at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
Earlier, Jemima stated that her sons had applied for visas in January but had yet to receive them, despite the usual processing time being 7–10 working days. She noted the delay had extended beyond 60 days, despite assurances from Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and PM spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi that the boys could safely visit.
She further claimed that her sons have not been allowed to communicate with their father since 2022 and appealed for permission for them to visit, citing concerns about his health.
The issue of visas has remained contentious, with Kasim previously alleging that the government was deliberately delaying the process. Reports last month also suggested that visas were being withheld despite earlier applications.
In August 2025, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan had clarified that the children had applied for both NICOP and visas after questions were raised by Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) strongly criticised the government, calling the visa delays “deliberate” and accusing authorities of denying basic family rights.
In a statement, PTI said the prolonged delay reflects political victimisation and condemned the restrictions on communication between Imran Khan and his sons. The party also claimed that applications for NICOP renewal had not been processed, terming the delay as evidence of “bad faith”.
PTI urged the government to immediately allow the sons to meet their father, particularly in light of concerns over his health, adding that restricting family contact for political reasons violates human rights and civil norms.
