Jemima Goldsmith calls Pakistan's actions against her children a 'personal vendetta'
Imran, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been in solitary confinement since August 2023, after being imprisoned on multiple charges ranging from corruption to terrorism.
'My children aren't allowed to speak on the phone to their father Imran Khan. He has been in solitary confinement in prison for nearly 2 years,' Goldsmith posted on X (formerly Twitter).
My children are not allowed to speak on the phone to their father @ImranKhanPTI. He has been in solitary confinement in prison for nearly 2 years.
Pakistan's government has now said if they go there to try to see him, they too will be arrested and put behind bars.
This doesn't… https://t.co/ccM7QFPmlV pic.twitter.com/z2v6PKgHto — Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) July 10, 2025
'Pakistan's government has now said if they go there to try to see him, they too will be arrested and put behind bars. This doesn't happen in a democracy or a functioning state. This isn't politics. It's a personal vendetta,' she added.
Goldsmith's statement came after remarks Prime Minister's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah warned that Khan's sons would be arrested if they joined a planned PTI protest in Pakistan.
Earlier, Imran's sister, Aleema Khan, had that the former premier's sons, Suleman and Kasim Khan, would join the protest movement initiated by him.
Aleema made these remarks after a visit to Adiala Jail, during which she and her sisters Uzma and Noreen Khan, along with party lawyers, were to meet Imran. However, Aleema was denied permission to meet with her brother.
Read: PTI not involved in any backdoor talks: Barrister Gohar
Speaking to the media, Aleema said that Imran would lead the protest from behind bars. 'Imran Khan has said that he will lead the protest movement. He is free while in jail but we are prisoners despite being outside,' she said.
She added that his sons, Suleman and Kasim, would join the movement in support of their father after visiting the United States.
Earlier, in May, Suleman and Kasim had publicly addressed their father's imprisonment and called for international pressure on Pakistan to secure his release.
This was the first instance that the brothers spoke out about their father's situation, despite being reportedly allowed contact with him weekly since November 2023. According to Imran's sons, these calls were inconsistent and difficult to arrange.
In an interview with X (formerly Twitter) influencer Mario Nawfal, the brothers explained why they decided to break their silence.
"We've gone through the legal routes. We've gone through every route that we thought would potentially get him out. We never thought he would be in there a fraction of how long he's been in there. And it's only getting worse. And so, we've somewhat run out of those options. And now we've decided the only route of taking action is to come and speak publicly," said Kasim.
"What we want is international pressure on Pakistan right now because currently he's living in inhumane conditions. They're not giving him basic human rights… They're not doing anywhere near enough. And what we want is global pressure," he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Punjab MPAs may strike decorum deal
Listen to article Key representatives from both treasury and opposition benches are likely to establish Terms of Reference (ToRs) in the coming days, aimed at regulating the future proceedings of the Punjab Assembly and discouraging humiliation, abusive exchanges and violent conduct between lawmakers. The development follows an initial consultative meeting between Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan and 26 suspended MPAs of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over disqualification references filed against them. Both sides reportedly agreed to form a joint committee of senior members to make the consultation process more effective and to explore constitutional, legal and parliamentary solutions to the impasse. It is worth mentioning that Speaker Khan had received disqualification references against these currently suspended MPAs under Article 63(2) read with Article 113 of the Constitution. It is his constitutional obligation to decide on these references within 30 days, as stipulated in the said provisions. Accordingly, the speaker had summoned the suspended MPAs for a hearing under Article 10-A of the Constitution by July 11 (yesterday) in his chamber at the Punjab Assembly. A reliable source, speaking to The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity, said that the speaker's move to suspend 26 MPAs and subsequently refer the matter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) served a dual purpose: first, it helped dispel perceptions within his party of him favouring the opposition; second, it brought the opposition to the negotiating table under the pretext of the disqualification reference, thereby creating space to frame mutually agreed-upon TORs. The source added that the meeting atmosphere was cordial, and a second round of talks may be held on Sunday or the following day. Both sides may nominate three or four members each to form the joint committee tasked with drafting TORs to ensure that members refrain from abusive, humiliating, or violent conduct. A key point being considered is that every member should be heard respectfully in the House, without interruptions, before any responses are made. If the opposition still feels compelled to protest, they may do so in line with democratic parliamentary norms and without resorting to derogatory language or physical disruption. The treasury is still debating whether the TORs should specifically mention Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz by name, ensuring that her speeches, along with those of Leader of the Opposition Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar and others, proceed without disruption, or whether the document should adopt a broader principle stating that all members' speeches are to be respected and disruptions will be dealt with strictly. According to the source, the opposition may find it difficult to remain calm during Maryam Nawaz's speeches. However, they are expected to acknowledge that while protest is their democratic right, they do not support abusive or violent conduct. In future sessions, they may restrict protests to their designated benches rather than assembling in front of the speaker's dais. First round of meeting During the first round of talks chaired by Speaker Khan in his chamber, treasury representatives and the suspended PTI MPAs, led by Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, proposed initiating mutual dialogue. The speaker welcomed this proposal warmly. Speaker Khan began the meeting by referencing past political regimes and then stressed the importance of democratic conduct within the assembly. "Dialogue and consultation are the essence of parliamentary democracy. Every disagreement can be resolved through a positive, dignified, and constitutional approach," the speaker said. Both sides demonstrated a willingness to set aside their differences and proceed in accordance with democratic norms. Background Speaker Khan has often been viewed as sympathetic to the opposition, regularly allowing their members sufficient time to speak during proceedings, including on points of order. He has also been noted for at times taking a stern tone with treasury members. Over time, this approach led to a growing perception among treasury lawmakers that the speaker was disproportionately favouring the opposition. They argued that he should limit the opposition's floor time and adopt a more stringent posture. However, Speaker Khan maintained that it was necessary to carry both sides along and that taking punitive action on minor infractions was not appropriate. While his conciliatory approach was appreciated by the opposition, it created unease within the treasury benches. Eventually, the treasury began ignoring the opposition's protests and disruptions in the House, especially during speeches by CM Maryam Nawaz. At times, opposition lawmakers were even seen confined to their seats rather than protesting in front of the speaker's dais. The speaker and the treasury had long urged the opposition to maintain peace and decorum during the chief minister's addresses. However, the opposition appeared to take advantage of the speaker's leniency, praising his neutrality while continuing to disrupt proceedings during Maryam Nawaz's speeches, despite assurances to the contrary. This tension peaked during the recent budget session. On June 27, when CM Maryam Nawaz delivered her address, the opposition appeared especially aggressive, possibly emboldened by the Supreme Court's decision on the reserved seats issue. Speaker Khan was under pressure to maintain order, while the treasury expected the opposition to honour past understandings. However, the apex court's ruling changed the atmosphere drastically. The opposition left no stone unturned in disrupting the CM's speech, prompting the speaker to move forward with disqualification references. The speaker's decision to initiate the references attracted public criticism, with many arguing that PTI had already been politically cornered. Several PML-N lawmakers also advised the speaker to resolve the matter within the assembly, rather than escalating it to the ECP.
Business Recorder
4 hours ago
- Business Recorder
JI slams govt, police over rise in street crimes
KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Chief, Monem Zafar Khan on Friday strongly criticised the Sindh government and police over the alarming surge in street crimes across the city, calling for immediate reforms and action. Expressing deep sorrow over the recent killing of 25-year-old Jibran — who had returned from overseas to attend his father's funeral but was shot dead while resisting robbers — Monem said no one in the city is safe due to the worsening law and order situation. Citing June's crime statistics, he revealed that over 5,000 incidents were officially reported last month, including the snatching of 3,883 motorcycles, 1,436 mobile phones, and 183 cars at gunpoint. He noted that actual figures could be much higher, as many victims don't report crimes due to lack of faith in the police. 'The root cause of this crisis is corruption within the government and the police force,' Monem said, urging authorities to purge the Police department of 'black sheep' and restore public confidence. He also demanded the revival of the Safe City project and a citywide crackdown on street criminals. 'JI will not allow the government to leave Karachiites at the mercy of armed criminals,' he vowed. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Talks on PTA with Vietnam to begin next year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Vietnam have agreed to initiate negotiations on a Pakistan–Vietnam Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) within 2025 and emphasised enhancing institutional and business linkages for sustained trade growth. The issue of trade was discussed at the 5th meeting of the Pakistan–Vietnam Joint Trade Committee (JTC) held in Hanoi, reactivating this institutional forum after a hiatus of eight years. The session was co-chaired by Nasir Hamid, Additional Secretary of Commerce, Phan Thi Thang, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Viet Nam. The signing ceremony of the agreed minutes was witnessed Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for Commerce of Pakistan, and Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam. The Committee reviewed the current state of bilateral trade and outlined future cooperation in key areas including trade facilitation, market access, textile and fisheries, Halal certification, civil aviation, healthcare, and banking channels. Minister of Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan also held a bilateral meeting with Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, to strengthen economic cooperation and explore new avenues for trade and investment between the two countries. The high-level meeting took place in a spirit of mutual friendship and partnership, reflecting the growing economic and diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Vietnam. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral trade relations and discussed key areas including trade diversification, market access, investment promotion, and collaboration in industrial development. During the meeting, the two ministers emphasized the need for enhanced business-to-business linkages, promotion of joint ventures, and cooperation in sectors such as textiles, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, information technology, and energy. Discussions also focused reducing trade barriers and working towards a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to facilitate smoother trade flows. Minister Jam Kamal Khan highlighted Pakistan's strategic location and offered Vietnam greater access to Central Asian and Middle Eastern markets through regional connectivity projects. Nguyen Hong Dien expressed Vietnam's interest in increasing imports of Pakistani rice, textiles, and leather products, and welcomed Pakistani investment in Vietnam's manufacturing and technology sectors. The meeting concluded with a shared vision to elevate Pakistan-Vietnam bilateral trade volume and to foster long-term economic partnership for the mutual benefit of both nations. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
