Pakistan 'plans to kill Imran Khan'

Pakistan has been accused of trying to kill Imran Khan by the politician's sons.The cricket legend has been denied access to court-ordered medical care and instead forced to remain in his 6ft by 8ft solitary confinement cell.Khan's sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, said they expect a similar scenario to play out as the death of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in 2019, who died in a court room from a heart attack which many human rights organisations believe was brought on by the abuse and neglect he experienced in solitary confinement.The former Prime Minister of Pakistan, 73, was imprisoned in Rawalpindi's notorious Adiala Jail just over three years ago and is serving two separate sentences of 17 and 14 years respectively for charges including corruption. He has denied the accusations.Kasim, 27, told Times Radio that he feared an assassination and that multiple prisoners have died from hepatitis in the jail due to the poor conditions, something he worries that his father could contract.Authorities could then 'eventually blame it on natural death', in reference to his father contracting the deadly disease. Lawyers have said Khan's health had recently deteriorated in the barbaric conditions which prompted the Supreme Court to intervene and order a transfer to a private hospital where an independent health assessment could be made.However, he was briefly taken instead to a government hospital where he was deemed fit to return to his cell – despite him reportedly losing 85 per cent of his vision in his right eye due to a blood clot. Imran Khan has been denied access to court-ordered medical care and instead forced to remain in his 6ft by 8ft solitary confinement cell Last month, Sky Sport broadcast an interview with the two sons during an England v Pakistan cricket match, which prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to threaten abandoning the match 'He himself said that he feared that the Pakistani establishment could be looking to do to him what happened to Morsi in Egypt. He directly made that comparison. So that is our fear, definitely,' Sulaiman, 29, said.The sons, whose mother is heiress Jemima Goldsmith, accused the British government of insufficient support and are hopeful to speak with the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham about it. Sulaiman and Kasim have not seen their father since his assassination attempt four years ago and have not been able to visit Pakistan due to visa issues.David Lammy advised them while serving as Foreign Secretary not to travel to Pakistan should visas be granted – this was due to the UK not being able to offer support should they be arrested on Pakistani soil, he said. The sons hope to discuss with Burnham the possibility of travelling to Islamabad and arranging some support from the UK, which would be enough to dissuade Pakistani officials from arresting them.'There’s nothing they fear more than foreign countries, foreign intervention. But as long as we go without any kind of support, then they have complete power in Pakistan, they can do absolutely anything. They’re very, very unpredictable and chaotic,' they said. Sulaiman also told Times Radio that he believed his father had been offered deals like house arrest or exile but would not have taken them as he would be restricted on what he could say and would not abandon fellow party members similarly behind bars.The sons have previously described his inhumane quarters that he has been living in for over two years as a 'death cell' with 'filthy water'. Khan's sons Sulaiman and Kasim have said they fear their father will be assassinated by Pakistani authorities'The conditions are disgusting and also he is completely isolated from any human contact,' Kasim said. Their last contact with their father was six months ago through a phone call.He added that his father was being subjected to 'psychological torture tactics' as even the prison guards were not allowed to communicate with him as he spends 23 hours in isolation.Khan complained of high blood pressure, heart palpitations and anxiety to his sister who was allowed to join him for a short period while in the government hospital.Last month, Sky Sports broadcast an interview with the two sons during an England v Pakistan cricket match, which prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to threaten abandoning the match.The heavily politicised PCB is sensitive to any criticism of government policy, and has denied mistreating Khan or of forbidding prison visits by his family and lawyers. International efforts to improve Khan's living conditions came together once again in February, when 14 cricket greats from around the world, including ex-England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, launched a humanitarian appeal for better treatment for Khan in an open letter. During his time as an international cricketer, Khan became one of the most successful all-rounders in history, featuring in 88 Test matches and concluding his career by leading Pakistan to World Cup glory in 1992.He enjoyed popular support when he became premier in 2018 but fell out with the king-making military establishment and was booted from power in a 2022 no-confidence vote. His supporters have taken to the streets to demand his release on multiple occasions since his arrest in May 2023.