'Our father being slowly killed': Imran Khan's sons accuse Pakistan's Asim Munir of vendetta - The Times of India

Imran Khan, the former Pakistani prime minister and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) party, has been held in custody since his arrest on corruption‑related charges in May 2023. The detention, ordered by the Islamabad High Court, has been extended several times, keeping the former premier in a cell at the Central Jail in Lahore. Over the past week, Khan’s two sons, Hassan Khan and Bilal Khan, have taken to the media to allege that the chief of the Pakistani army, General Asim Munir, is orchestrating a personal vendetta against their father, describing his confinement as a “slow killing.”

In interviews with The Times of India, The Guardian and other outlets, the brothers claimed that Imran Khan is confined to a “tiny 6 × 8 ft cell” with virtually no human contact, limited medical supervision, and restricted access to fresh air or exercise. They said that his health has deteriorated sharply, citing weight loss, high blood pressure and recurring headaches, and warned that the conditions amount to “slowly killing” their father. The siblings accused General Munir of using the army’s influence to pressure the judiciary and law‑enforcement agencies, arguing that the chief’s alleged “personal vendetta” is being played out through the harsh treatment of the former prime minister.

The army’s public affairs wing has rejected the accusations, stating that the military remains “apolitical” and that any claims of a vendetta are “baseless and designed to politicise the judiciary.” Legal experts and human‑rights groups, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, have called for an independent medical assessment and greater transparency regarding the detention conditions. As Pakistan prepares for a general election later this year, the dispute adds another layer of tension between the PTI and the establishment, with opposition parties urging the courts to ensure that Khan’s confinement complies with domestic law and international human‑rights standards.