Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s son Sulaiman said on Friday that the country was “whitewashing” its image on the world stage in its role as a mediator in the ceasefire talks between Iran and the United States.
In an interview with Channel4news, he said: “…partly, I think it’s an attempt to whitewash their image on the world stage and they’re doing a good job of diverting attention from the human rights abuses and insults to democracy that they’ve been going on for the last few days.”
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Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator between the US and Iran, consolidating its position on the international stage at a time when it is struggling, among other issues, with a developing economy and conflict with neighboring Afghanistan.
The US and Iran held the first round of peace talks in Islamabad, which ended without any results. The talks were mediated by Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. A second round of talks is now awaited, with the US and Iran sending mixed signals about the talks.
Earlier this April, Sulaiman told ITV that his father Imran Khan cared about his country and peace in the Middle East so much that he prioritized peace talks in Islamabad over his own situation. “He decided to call off the protest his party was going to stage during the peace talks…,” he said.
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The sons of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan have accused the country’s government of using peace talks with Iran to burnish his international image and divert attention from his “inhumane” treatment after nearly 1,000 days in custody, ITV News reported in April.
Sulaiman said: “I think the Pakistani regime is doing everything they can to clean up their image on the international stage. It seems to be working at the moment. They have presented themselves as a kind of peace broker.”
Imran Khan, Pakistan’s World Cup-winning former cricket captain turned politician, was jailed in August 2023 and faces 100 charges, ITV reported. He is kept in solitary confinement.
Khan denies all the allegations against him, saying they are politically motivated. He is forced to spend up to 23 hours a day in his prison cell, his family says, and is only allowed occasional phone calls with family members.
Amnesty reports sharp decline in civil liberties in Pakistan
A recent report by Amnesty International has raised serious concerns about the decline in civil liberties in Pakistan, reports a Dawn report.
A human rights organization has warned that the global human rights situation is entering one of its most difficult phases, with freedoms increasingly under threat. Dawn noted how the situation in Pakistan reflects this broader trend.
The report highlighted that recent changes to cyber laws, anti-terrorism legislation and regulations governing online speech have severely limited freedom of expression and peaceful protest.
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Dawn noted that these legal moves have led to the detention of journalists, activists and political opponents. Amnesty also flagged the 27th Amendment, saying it undermines the independence of the judiciary while providing sweeping immunity to the top state and military leadership, as quoted by Dawn.
As noted in the report, the issue of enforced disappearances remains unresolved.
She also highlighted that the crackdown on the political opposition, especially the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, had intensified. Over 100 party members were convicted in connection with the 9 May 2023 riots.
Among those affected, party founder Imran Khan continues to face imprisonment on what Amnesty has described as politically motivated charges.
The report also shed light on increasing violence against women, noting a significant increase in reported cases. Journalists and human rights defenders are increasingly targeted under Pakistan’s e-crimes law, with some facing travel bans and prosecution for online activity. Activists such as Imaan Mazari have also been charged over social media posts, raising concerns about due process.
