By ABDULLAH 
Islamabad, August 1, 2025 – The sons of former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, Sulaiman Isa Khan and Kasim Khan, have officially applied for Pakistani visas at the Pakistan High Commission in London, according to a statement issued by Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan.
In a post shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Aleema Khan stated that her nephews submitted their visa applications several days ago. She claimed that the High Commissioner to the UK confirmed the receipt of the applications and said their approval was currently pending with Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior in Islamabad.
However, contradictory statements have emerged from the Interior Ministry, where official sources denied having received or processed any visa applications from Imran Khan’s sons. Speaking to the media, interior ministry officials clarified that visa issuance falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistan High Commission, not the Interior Ministry.
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Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry questioned the need for visas, referring to Aleema Khan’s previous statement claiming the brothers held NICOPs (National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis). “If they truly have NICOPs, why do they need visas?” he asked, implying that a visa request indicates they may not hold Pakistani nationality.
Meanwhile, Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice, weighed in on the legal implications. He stated that foreign nationals cannot participate in political activities in Pakistan, and if Sulaiman or Kasim violate visa conditions, their visas can be revoked. He also emphasized that Article 16 of the Constitution, which ensures the right to peaceful assembly, only applies to Pakistani citizens.
In response to circulating media reports suggesting that Imran Khan allegedly told reporters in Adiala Jail that his sons would not visit Pakistan or lead any protests, PTI leadership strongly denied such claims. Aleema Khan reaffirmed the intention of her nephews to visit Pakistan, adding, “They will definitely come. They are citizens of Pakistan.”
Notably, Sulaiman and Kasim had previously traveled to the U.S., where they lobbied American lawmakers in support of their father and highlighted his prison conditions, calling them “inhumane”. In a recent interview with U.S. outlet Real America’s Voice, Kasim Khan claimed that his father was being held in solitary confinement, bathing in muddy water, and living in unsanitary conditions where “ten people have reportedly died.”
Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023, currently serving a sentence in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. He also faces several pending trials, including those under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with the May 9, 2023 protests that erupted after his arrest.
His sons, who reside in the UK with their mother Jemima Goldsmith, last visited Pakistan in November 2022, shortly after an assassination attempt on Imran Khan in Wazirabad. That visit marked a rare appearance in Pakistan since Khan’s removal from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
While the situation remains fluid, the political and legal implications of the sons’ visit are significant. Legal limitations, visa rules, and public sentiment may influence the final decision. PML-N’s Senator Irfan Siddiqui commented that the brothers should be allowed to visit Pakistan but within the boundaries of the law.
As the Ministry of Interior remains silent officially, and government voices continue to deliver mixed signals, the nation watches closely:
Will Imran Khan’s sons return to Pakistan—and if they do, under what terms?