Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan speaks with Reuters during an interview, in Lahore, Pakistan March 17, 2023. — REUTERS
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Saturday urged foreign media outlets to reflect “documented facts” while reporting on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former premier Imran Khan instead of reporting “unfounded political allegations”.
A day earlier, Imran’s sons appeared on Sky News, reiterating their concerns about their father’s health. At the beginning of August, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan had expressed concern about Imran’s poor health, telling CNN that authorities prevented family members, lawyers and doctors from visiting the jailed former premier for months.
They said they have not seen their father since November 2022. The duo also claimed that they applied for visas in January this year but have yet to receive a response from the relevant authorities. Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the protests of May 9, 2023.
In a point-by-point response to allegations against the government shared with the concerned media outlets on X, the ministry said, “The government would… urge the concerned foreign media outlets to reflect these documented facts in any further reporting on the matter and to distinguish between verified custodial and medical records and politically contested allegations.”
The ministry’s External Publicity Wing rejected reports circulated by some foreign media outlets that the incarcerated PTI founder was being subjected to solitary confinement, denied access to family and deprived of adequate medical care, saying official prison and medical records do not support the claims.
It highlighted that the stories were “misleading”, terming them as “propaganda”.
The statement issued by the ministry said that the former prime minister was serving sentences awarded by courts and was not being held under executive detention.
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The ministry further said that his imprisonment was governed by the Pakistan Prison Rules, judicial directions and security arrangements applicable to a high-profile prisoner.
It rejected allegations of punitive solitary confinement, cruelty or deprivation, saying the prisoner was allowed visits, telephone calls, reading material and television access subject to prison rules, court orders and security requirements.
“The convicted prisoner is also permitted home-cooked food, exercise equipment and is provided appropriate dietary facilities,” the statement said further, pointing out that Imran was being served exclusive meals, including meat, chicken, fruit, milk, nuts, juices and bottled water.
Elaborating on the PTI founder’s confinement conditions, the ministry outlined that Imran’s accommodation comprised an exclusive seven-cell compound with sleeping, sanitation and exercise facilities.
Taking notice of certain misleading stories being pushed through few foreign media outlets with respect to a certain convicted prisoner, it is felt appropriate to bring on record the response already shared in this regard with the concerned outlets publicly; not only for…
— Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) August 29, 2026
The ministry also disputed reports that Imran had been completely isolated from his family.
It said prison records showed around 198 interview sessions involving more than 900 visitor entries since his imprisonment. The visitors included his sisters, other family members, lawyers, doctors, political representatives and other approved persons.
According to the ministry, Imran has been permitted weekly meetings with his wife, with the latest meeting recorded on August 4.
The statement also underscored that prison records documented telephone, landline and WhatsApp communications with family members in Pakistan and abroad.
The ministry said it included a telephone conversation with one of his sons on March 21.
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More recently, the ministry said, Imran held meetings with his sisters on August 18, 19 and 25.
“The government also categorically rejects allegations that the convicted prisoner has been denied appropriate medical care or that the authorities failed to comply with the directions of the Honourable Supreme Court concerning his medical examination and treatment,” the ministry added.
It said Imran had undergone around 30 medical examinations by specialist teams and medical boards since his imprisonment. These, it said, involved institutions including PIMS, Shifa International, Shaukat Khanum and Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals, in addition to examinations by the prison doctor.
Following the diagnosis of a retinal condition, he received specialist treatment, including five intravitreal anti-VEGF injections, retinal imaging, medication and follow-up examinations, according to the statement.
The ministry said specialist assessments conducted in July and on August 21 described him as oriented and stable, with no recorded acute or unmanaged deterioration.
It also cited recent comments by his sister, Dr Uzma Niazi, who had told the media that he was “100% fit”. According to the ministry, she cited a blood pressure reading of 120/80, said his eye condition had almost completely healed and praised the treating eye specialist.
The government said her comments did not support allegations of deliberate or systematic medical neglect.
It further said the Supreme Court’s directions regarding the prisoner’s medical examination had been implemented and that his sister had been present during the examination.
The ministry said the government had consistently maintained that health matters should not be politicised and had no interest in doing so.
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The government also referred to the Supreme Court’s direction that, pending further proceedings, members of the prisoner’s family, his political party and associated lawyers should not disclose or share his health condition or medical reports with the media or the public.
“The government therefore considers it important to distinguish between the right of a prisoner to receive appropriate medical treatment, which is fully respected and attempts to use confidential medical information as an instrument of political campaigning or public messaging.”
“The convicted prisoner’s medical treatment has continued as required, and his access to specialist care has not been discontinued,” the ministry said further.
It added that Imran’s medical condition should be assessed on the basis of clinical records and judicial directions rather than being turned into a political controversy.
The ministry also maintained that access to a convicted prisoner could not be used as a platform for unrestricted political communication or political activity from inside prison.
Sons’ visits
On reports that the prisoner’s sons were unable to travel to Pakistan to visit him, the government said both held valid National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPs).
According to the ministry, a valid NICOP was a recognised travel document for entry into Pakistan and could be used by the two men to travel to the country.
It said the ability to travel to Pakistan was separate from the question of prison visitation, which remained subject to prison rules, judicial directions and security procedures.
The ministry said the issue had been presented in an unnecessarily politicised manner and urged foreign media outlets to take into account the documented record on the prisoner’s detention conditions, family access and medical treatment when reporting on the matter.
