Imran Khan’s sons break silence, urge Trump, global leaders to intervene for father’s release

Dubai: In their first public interview, the sons of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan have appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump and the international community to help secure their father’s release from prison.

Khan, who has been behind bars since August 2023, faces a slew of legal cases, including a conviction in a £190 million corruption case and several charges under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act.

As PTI continues to press for Khan’s release through legal and political channels, his sons have now taken their plea global. In an interview with X influencer and citizen journalist Mario Nawfal, Khan’s sons, Kasim Khan (26) and Sulaiman Khan (28), described their father's conditions in prison. “Anyone who looks into it a little can kind of see that,” Sulaiman said, referring to the cases against his father.

“In terms of a message to the Trump administration, we would call for any government that supports free speech and proper democracy to join the call for our father’s release—and especially the most powerful leader in the world,” they said. Their interview is being widely circulated on social media channels.

People of influence

Khan’s sons also appealed more broadly to “people of influence” across the globe, saying the international community must speak up.

“We would love to speak to President Trump or try and figure out a way where he would be able to help out. Because at the end of the day, all we are trying to do is free our father, and ensure his basic human rights.”

The interview comes amid tensions between PTI and the government following the February 2024 general elections, which Khan’s party claims were rigged after losing the elections.

Background

Authorities have rejected the allegations and instead blamed PTI for inciting violence. Officials say PTI-backed mobs attacked military installations in May 2023, while in November 2024, four security personnel were killed during a protest demanding Khan’s release. PTI has denied responsibility, claiming the violence was either provoked or falsely attributed to them.

The interview with Nawfal also touched on the brothers’ personal experiences. They described their limited and sporadic contact with Khan due to irregular prison communication, often going months without a call.

Reach out to us

“It has gone a bit quiet recently. We would love people to reach out to us if they have some influence or potential to help with this situation,” said Sulaiman.

Despite their high-profile lineage, both sons have remained out of Pakistani politics. Their mother, British journalist and filmmaker Jemima Goldsmith, has long maintained that her sons are private individuals with no political involvement. She has previously condemned harassment and impersonation campaigns targeting her children on social media.

Father's permission

The brothers said they had taken their father's permission before speaking publicly and expressed no interest in entering politics themselves. Instead, they said their goal was simple: release of their father.