Imran Khan is “Alive” but is “Mentally Tortured:” Uzma Khanum, Asim Munir Blamed
NEW DELHI, Dec 2: The former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan “is alive” but is being “mentally tortured,” his sister, Dr Uzma Khanum, said on Tuesday evening after a 20-minute meeting with her brother in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Dr Khanum said, “Alhamdulillah, he is all right… but he was angry about being mentally tortured. He is locked in his cell all day… can only step out for short periods. And he can’t communicate with anyone.”
She also said her brother had blamed General Asim Munir, currently the most powerful person in Pakistan, for his incarceration and condition. The meeting followed rumours about the ex-Prime Minister’s health, particularly after his family were barred from meeting him for several weeks. It also followed protests by Imran Khan’s supporters – in Islamabad and Rawalpindi – that prompted officials to prohibit large gatherings.
That, though, did not prevent protests outside the Islamabad High Court. Concerns over Khan’s condition intensified last month after his three sisters – Noreen Niazi, Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan – said they were assaulted for asking to meet him.
Those concerns were amplified by his sons’ comments – that jail authorities were concealing “something irreversible” about their father’s condition. One of his sons, Kasim Khan, told Reuters there had been no direct or verifiable contact despite a court order for weekly meetings.
The family also flagged prison authorities refusing visits by Imran Khan’s personal doctor. In fact, prior to today’s meeting, neither family nor members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had met Khan for over 25 days, leading to rumours he may have died and the authorities, aware his death will lead to protests by millions who see him as national hero, were trying to cover it up.
(Manas Dasgupta)
