Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Patron-in-Chief Imran Khan, in a post shared on his official X account on Wednesday, slammed his party leadership for “wasting time” on internal conflicts amidst his ongoing incarceration at Adiala Jail.
“Every member of the party must immediately set aside all differences and focus solely on the movement of Aug. 5,” states the message, whose provenance remains unclear as the PTI has said no one was permitted to meet Khan this week and he lacks access to a phone in prison. “I currently see no momentum in this movement,” it continues, maintaining the former prime minister is “fighting a war” against a “78-year-old system” but retains public support.
Exhorting his party to justify the public support by becoming their voice, he said it was “extremely regrettable and condemnable” if they were wasting time infighting. “Anyone who engages in factionalism within the party will be expelled by me,” reads the post, adding creating differences within the party at this time was akin to damaging his “purpose and vision.”
The post also summarized allegations of Khan’s mistreatment in prison, routinely denied by jail authorities. He claimed he was being treated worse than any political figure in Pakistan’s history and lamented the incarceration of his wife, Bushra. “I am enduring the toughest jail term in the country’s history solely for the sake of my nation and the supremacy of the Constitution,” he wrote, claiming he received “water mixed with mud” for his ablution and denied access to TV, newspapers and books.
“All my basic human rights are being violated,” read the post, alleging Khan was denied facilities entitled to him under law, including the ability to speak with his children abroad. “My political meetings are also banned, and I am only allowed to meet people of ‘their choice,’ while other meetings are prohibited,” it added.
The post further criticized the 26th Amendment, alleging it had paralyzed the judiciary. “We must struggle with full force to free the judiciary because without an independent judiciary, the survival of any nation or country is simply impossible,” it added.
Seeking support
Separately, Khan’s sons Sulaiman and Kasim reached the United States in a bid to curry support for their father, meeting President Donald Trump’s aide Richard Grenell and Congressman Joe Wilson, both of whom have previously supported calls for the former prime minister’s release.
Following the meeting, Grenell posted on X, encouraging Sulaiman and Kasim “stay strong” and assuring them they were not alone. “There are millions of people around the world who are sick of political prosecutions,” he wrote.
In another post on X, Kasim claimed his father had sacrificed “comfort, peace, and safety to fight for Pakistan’s future” and lamented that he was accused of corruption despite spending decades highlighting the devastation caused by corrupt governments.
According to Khan’s sister, Aleema, Sulaiman and Kasim are planning to travel to Pakistan after their U.S. tour to join the PTI’s protest for their father’s release. However, no further plans or itinerary has been made public yet.