Government Orders Removal of Imran Khan’s Pictures from Public Platforms
Pakistan Bans Imran Khan’s Image: TV Channels, Internet Erase Former PM: More than 18 months after former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was imprisoned, a disturbing silence around his condition and whereabouts has raised alarm among his family and supporters. With TV channels barred from showing his image or even mentioning his name, and no recent photographs or videos available, concerns have intensified over what Imran Khan’s sons describe as “deliberate isolation.”
Family Says They Have No Proof of His Safety
Imran Khan’s son Qasim Khan, speaking to Reuters from London, revealed that the family has not received any verifiable evidence for three weeks confirming the former prime minister’s safety or physical condition.
“Not knowing whether your father is safe, injured, or even alive is a form of mental torture,” Qasim said, adding that he last saw his father in November 2022, around the time Imran survived an assassination attempt.
Despite court orders permitting weekly visits, jail authorities have repeatedly delayed or denied permissions. His personal doctor has not been allowed to meet him for a year, and the family claims that assurances of Imran Khan being “fine” are based solely on unnamed government sources, with no official medical reports provided.
Media Blackout: Imran Khan’s Name, Photos Banned
Pakistan’s media regulators have reportedly instructed TV channels to avoid displaying Imran Khan’s name, picture, or statements. Over the past weeks, this blackout has extended even to the internet—causing recent images of Imran Khan to virtually disappear from public platforms.
The only image circulating is an old, grainy court photograph, deepening fears that the government may be intentionally erasing his presence from public consciousness.
The family alleges that this blackout is part of a strategy to politically neutralize a leader who, they say, “cannot be defeated democratically.”
Why Is Imran Khan in Jail?
Imran Khan, 72, has been behind bars since August 2023, after being convicted in multiple cases including:
- Toshakhana case
- Cipher/secret cable case – 10 years
- Al-Qadir Trust case – 14 years
- Several other corruption and political cases
Khan and his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), insist the charges are fabricated, calling them part of a politically motivated crackdown aimed at keeping him out of elections.
Family Seeks International Intervention
With Pakistani authorities offering no clarity, Imran Khan’s family has approached international human rights bodies, urging them to push for:
- Restoration of weekly court-mandated visits
- Immediate medical access for his personal doctor
- An official, verifiable update on Imran Khan’s health and location
The situation has now evolved from a political crisis to a human rights concern, with global voices calling for transparency and access.
A Leader Silenced
As Imran Khan remains unseen and unheard, the blackout surrounding him has become one of the most controversial developments in Pakistan’s political landscape in recent years — raising pressing questions about transparency, civil liberties, and political suppression.
ALSO READ: Health Benefits of Ghee
