LONDON/ISLAMABAD — Jemima Goldsmith, the former wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, alleged on Thursday that the government was refusing visas for their sons, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan, in an attempt to deprive them of British protection in the case of a possible arrest upon arrival in Pakistan.
The accusation came a day after Information Minister Attaullah Tarar welcomed her sons to visit Pakistan using their National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP), which he said would allow them to travel without a visa .
‘No British Protection’
Responding to Tarar’s statement, Goldsmith wrote on X: “We all know that the reason you are refusing their visas and recommending they travel on NICOP cards (which they don’t have presently) is because that way they will have no British protection if you choose to arrest them on arrival” .
The NICOP is a document issued to Pakistani citizens residing abroad, particularly those holding dual nationality with countries including the United Kingdom, and allows visa-free travel to Pakistan . However, Goldsmith pointed out that her sons do not currently possess NICOP cards, raising questions about the practicality of the minister’s suggestion .
Previous Appeals
Goldsmith had directly appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, urging the government to allow Kasim and Sulaiman to visit their father in jail.
“My sons Sulaiman and Kasim applied for visas in January (again…) to allow them to visit their father Imran Khan in Pakistan. The Pakistan consulate states that online visa processing normally takes 7–10 working days. It has now been 60 days,” she had said .
She also noted that assurances had been given by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and government spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi regarding safe travel for her sons .
Background
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. In addition, he faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the protests of May 9, 2023.
Kasim and Sulaiman have not seen their father since November 2022, after he survived an assassination attempt. They said they applied for visas in January but have yet to receive a response.
Kasim had accused the government last month of deliberately refusing to process his visa and that of his brother to prevent the siblings from meeting their father. He said that denying a prisoner treatment was cruel and denying his children the right to see him was collective punishment.
Political Context
Last year, Imran’s sister Aleema Khan had told reporters that the brothers would participate in a protest movement planned for August 5, 2025. Later, it was reported that Imran had stated his sons would not be coming to Pakistan to join the protest. The brothers had later held meetings with key individuals in the United States.
Consular Protection
Under UK law, British citizens, including those with dual nationality, cannot be deported. However, consular protection—including assistance from British diplomatic missions—is available to British nationals abroad . Goldsmith’s allegation suggests that traveling on NICOP cards rather than British passports could complicate access to such protection if authorities took action against her sons upon arrival.
No Official Response
As of Thursday evening, there has been no official response from the government to Goldsmith’s latest allegations. The visa applications remain pending, with the family’s repeated requests for clarity unanswered.
