The family of jailed former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has accused the Pakistani authorities of deliberately blocking visas to prevent his children from visiting him in prison, intensifying allegations of political vendetta and abuse of state power.

In a public statement, Imran Khan’s son said Pakistani authorities have repeatedly refused or delayed visa applications without explanation, despite legal entitlement and humanitarian grounds. He alleged the denial is a calculated move aimed at further isolating Khan, who has been imprisoned for months amid a series of controversial convictions.

“This is not a bureaucratic delay. This is deliberate,” he said, accusing the Pakistani state of using immigration controls as a tool of political punishment. “They want to break him psychologically by cutting him off from his family.”

The allegation adds to growing criticism of Pakistan’s handling of Imran Khan’s detention, which supporters describe as politically motivated and emblematic of a wider crackdown on dissent. Since Khan’s arrest, dozens of PTI leaders have been jailed, forced into exile or silenced through legal pressure, while the party itself has been systematically weakened.

Legal experts note that denying family access particularly to immediate relatives violates basic principles of due process and humanitarian norms, especially when no security justification is provided. Rights advocates argue that such actions reflect the erosion of civil liberties under Pakistan’s current power structure.

The Pakistani government has not publicly explained the visa refusals, maintaining that all decisions are taken “according to law.” However, critics point out that selective enforcement and opaque decision-making have become hallmarks of Pakistan’s post-Imran political landscape.

Imran Khan’s continued imprisonment has drawn international concern, with observers warning that Pakistan is drifting further away from democratic norms by weaponising courts, prisons and administrative systems against political opponents.

As pressure mounts, the alleged denial of visas to Khan’s children has become a powerful symbol of what critics describe as collective punishment extending political retaliation beyond the individual to his family, and reinforcing claims that Pakistan’s justice system is being subordinated to political objectives. 

This image is taken from The Tribune.