ISLAMABAD (Web-Desk); Aleema Khanum, sister of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, announced on Friday that her nephews, Sulaiman Khan and Kasim Khan, had applied for Pakistani visas and were now awaiting clearance from the Interior Ministry ahead of their visit to the country.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Aleema revealed: “A few days ago, Suleiman and Kasim applied for their visas with the Pakistan High Commission in London. The ambassador has informed us that he is waiting for approval from the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad.”
Her statement sparked political debate, with Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry questioning why the brothers needed visas if, as claimed previously by Aleema, they possessed National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP). “If they need visas, then they are not Pakistani nationals. What is the truth here?” he remarked.
The two UK-based sons of the former Prime Minister—Sulaiman, 28, and Kasim, 26—had made their first public statement regarding their father’s imprisonment in May this year. According to Aleema, the siblings visited the United States before planning their Pakistan trip as part of a broader campaign demanding their father’s release. During their U.S. visit, they reportedly engaged with lawmakers to highlight Imran Khan’s detention.
Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence in Adiala Jail in connection with a £190 million corruption case. He also faces several other trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the violent protests that took place on May 9, 2023.
Aleema had previously stated that her nephews would “definitely” visit Pakistan as they held NICOPs and were “citizens of Pakistan.” She had also warned that if anything were to happen to them during their stay, it would become an international issue.
The PTI party has recently denied reports suggesting that Imran Khan had told journalists in jail that his sons would not be coming to Pakistan or playing any role in local protests. Party leaders labelled such reports as “misinformation.”
While the federal government has yet to issue an official stance on the visa matter, Minister Tallal Chaudhry has stated that the government would not obstruct their visit. “Visas can be issued in less than 24 hours as long as they comply with Pakistani laws,” he noted.
However, State Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik pointed out that Article 16 of the Constitution guarantees the right to assemble that applies only to Pakistani citizens. He emphasized that the two brothers, as British nationals, are not legally allowed to participate in political activities in Pakistan. He added that any violation of visa conditions could result in cancellation.
PML-N leaders appeared divided on the issue. While Minister Malik stressed legal limitations, Senator Irfan Siddiqui expressed a more open stance, saying that Sulaiman and Kasim should be allowed to visit and engage in activities, provided they remain within the bounds of the law.
