PTI rejects Imran Khan’s reports that prevents children from visiting Pakistan

The Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) has denied the reports of the media that suggest that the founder of the Imran Khan party prohibited his children from traveling to Pakistan, calling for such factually incorrect statements and taken from context.

The central secretary of Information of the party, Sheikh Waqas Akram, dismissed the reports on Tuesday, qualifying them deceptive and urged journalists, particularly those that report from the Adial prison, to refrain from selectively quote the former prime minister.

“The news that circulates in the media with respect to the children of Imran Khan is completely false. Khan has not prevented his children from coming to Pakistan,” Akram said in an X publication.

“There is no doubt that Imran Khan’s children will come to Pakistan; it only remains to decide the date,” he added, stating that Khan’s children had already informed their father of their plans and did not seek their permission.

The comments occurred after some media, citing sources present during an audience in the Adial prison, reported that Khan had declared their children, Sulaiman and Kasim, would not come to Pakistan to join the planned protest for August 5.

In response to such statements, Akram criticized what he described as “selective interpretation” of Khan’s comments and emphasized that direct appointments should be reported.

“I would urge my friends in the media, especially those who report from Adiala, to transmit exactly what Khan says. It is inappropriate to report their comments selectively or out of context, or interpret them based on personal preferences,” said the secretary of PTI who urges that such propaganda should not be avoided, as it has no purpose.

Earlier this month, Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, had told the journalists that Sulaiman and Qasim would participate in the protest movement. “First they will go to the United States to raise awareness about the injustices faced by their father and then participate in the movement in Pakistan,” he said.

The reports also suggested that the brothers had held meetings with key people in the United States before their possible arrival in Pakistan.

However, the problem has also extracted government reactions. The prime minister’s political affairs advisor, Rana Sanaullah, warned that Khan’s children, who reside in the United Kingdom with their mother Jemima Goldsmith, would be arrested if they participated in the protest.

Interior Minister of Talal Chaudhry echoed this opinion, stating that the brothers would need adequate visas to enter Pakistan if they are not citizens. “No individual, local or foreign, will be allowed to come to Pakistan and take the law in their own hands,” he said.