Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan’s Information Minister, said on Wednesday that the sons of former prime minister Imran Khan are welcome to visit the country without a visa if they hold a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (Nicop).
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In a statement on social media, Tarar clarified that Kasim and Suleiman Khan, who currently reside in London with their mother Jemima Goldsmith, can travel to Pakistan as citizens using their Nicop cards, which do not require a visa.
He added that a phone call between Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, and his children would be arranged on Eid, as has been done previously.
The minister’s remarks came in response to an appeal by Jemima Goldsmith to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding delays in visa issuance for her sons. She stated that despite applying in January, the process had exceeded the usual 7–10 working days and had stretched to nearly two months.
Jemima also expressed concern that her sons had been unable to communicate with their father, claiming they have not spoken to him or visited him since 2022. She urged the government to facilitate their visit, particularly citing concerns about Imran Khan’s health.
Kasim Khan has previously alleged that authorities were deliberately delaying the visa process, while government officials have maintained that valid Nicop holders do not require visas for entry into Pakistan.
The issue has drawn public attention amid ongoing political tensions, with questions raised over legal procedures and access for family members of detained political figures.
