Imran Khan went from leading Pakistan to its biggest cricket triumph in 1992 to become the country’s prime minister, but now remains behind bars facing more than a hundred cases.

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan Imran Khan’s prison conditions have become the focus of fresh controversy surrounding Pakistan cricket after his sons raised concerns about his health in an interview with former England captain Michael Atherton.The interview, which features Khan’s sons Sulaiman and Kasim, was broadcast by Sky Sports during the lunch break on the first day of the second Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s. The program drew a strong response from the Pakistan Cricket Board, with reports suggesting that the Pakistan team even considered refusing to return to the field if the interview was broadcast.In the end, the threat amounted to more talk than action. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s state broadcaster PTV, which aired the Sky Sports channel, reportedly switched to commercials when a preview of the interview aired instead of showing the segment.

Khan’s sons raise health concerns

Kasim and Sulaiman spoke about what they described as the deteriorating conditions of their father, who has been imprisoned since 2023. Kasim claimed that the situation had become so dire that he believed the authorities were deliberately trying to keep Khan in isolation and “blatantly trying to kill him”.Kasim claimed that Khan had lost about 80 percent of his vision in one eye and was recently seen wearing an eyepatch. He also claimed that the former prime minister of Pakistan spends more than 23 hours a day alone in a small prison cell with limited access to books and basic equipment.“They don’t even act with any strategy anymore. It’s not very clear what they’re doing, they’re just blatantly trying to kill him there. Keep him there as long as possible and silence him,” Kasim said.He claimed that Khan had told relatives that conditions had seriously deteriorated and that he was increasingly isolated, and compared his situation to other political prisoners who had died in custody.Kasim also described his father as visibly stressed and said the change was particularly disturbing because Khan had always seemed calm even in dangerous situations.

Why the hospital visit became controversial

The concerns came shortly after Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered that Khan be taken for a medical examination.His sons said they were initially cautiously optimistic that he would receive proper treatment at a private hospital. Instead, they claimed he was taken to a government health facility for a brief check-up before returning to prison.“We were cautiously optimistic. Our fears were confirmed when, instead of being taken to the private hospital where he was supposed to be taken, he was only taken to a government health facility for a few hours and then taken straight back to prison,” Sulaiman said.He claimed that Khan was interrogated for about an hour by government officials before being sent back to jail despite doctors waiting for him at Shifa International Hospital.Khan was subsequently taken to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital for a medical check-up on August 21 before being returned to Adiala jail in compliance with Supreme Court orders.

Former cricketers intervene

The latest controversy has also dragged former cricketers into the debate.A group of former international captains, including Indian greats Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, wrote to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging the authorities to ensure that Khan receives proper medical care and humane conditions in prison.The call was conceived as a humanitarian intervention rather than a political statement.Former England captain Michael Atherton, who interviewed Khan’s sons for Sky Sports, also earlier joined calls for more attention to be paid to the former Pakistan captain’s health.

Why was Imran Khan in jail?

Imran Khan’s imprisonment stems from a series of legal cases that followed his removal as Pakistan’s prime minister in April 2022.On 10 April 2022, the National Assembly of Pakistan impeached Khan in a vote of no confidence, making him the first Pakistani prime minister to be ousted by such a motion. Khan subsequently launched a political campaign against the government, claiming that the military and his political opponents were working together to remove him.His legal problems escalated over the next year.In August 2022, Khan was booked under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act and was later granted anticipatory bail by the Islamabad High Court. In October 2022, the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified him from contesting elections for five years after finding him guilty of concealing details related to the sale of donations received from foreign leaders.

Arrests and cases of Toshakhana

Khan was arrested on 9 May 2023 in connection with the Toshakhan case. The arrest sparked violent protests by his supporters across Pakistan.The Islamabad High Court subsequently ordered his release, but he was arrested again in August 2023 after being sentenced to three years in prison in the Toshakhan case.His legal troubles continued until 2024. In January, Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to separate 14-year sentences in another Toshakhan case. The Islamabad High Court later stayed the sentence in April 2024.Khan and Bushra Bibi were also sentenced to seven years each in February 2024 in their 2018 marriage case, commonly referred to as the iddat case. They were acquitted in July 2024.Although Khan secured bail in another graft case in November 2024, he remained in jail due to other cases against him.

Condemnation of Al-Qadir Trust

The last major conviction came on 17 January 2025 when Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Bushra Bibi was sentenced to seven years in the same case.The case centered on allegations that Khan and Bushra Bibi obtained land through the Al-Qadir Trust, a charitable trust they established in 2018. Pakistani authorities claimed the land was linked to a deal involving developer Malik Riaz and was worth up to $25 million.Khan has faced court proceedings in more than 100 cases since his removal from office.

From Cricket Hero to Prime Minister

Long before entering politics, Khan was one of Pakistan’s biggest sporting icons.As captain, he led Pakistan to its first ODI World Cup title in 1992. Four years later, in 1996, he founded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).The PTI failed to win a seat in the 1997 general election, but Khan won the party’s sole seat in the 2002 election.His political rise continued over the next decade before becoming the Prime Minister of Pakistan in August 2018.Khan remained Prime Minister until April 2022, when he was removed by a vote of no confidence. His fall from power was followed by a series of legal cases, arrests and convictions that ultimately led to his continued imprisonment.