Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched a scathing attack on the country’s judiciary, accusing judges of “selling their souls for personal privileges” in a message shared from prison during Eid.
Khan, who has been jailed since August 2023, made the remarks during a telephone conversation with his sons. The message was later posted on his official X account on Monday.
“The judges in this country should be ashamed of themselves,” Khan said. “Time and again, we have gone to the judiciary, but they have sold their integrity for personal gain.”
In his message, Khan suggested that he is being pressured through his family, pointing towards Pakistan’s powerful military establishment, which critics have long accused of interfering in political affairs.
He raised particular concern over the treatment of his wife, Bushra Bibi, claiming she is being held in near-total isolation.
“She spends 24 hours a day in isolation, except for 30 minutes with me per week, and even that is often denied,” he said.
Khan described the treatment as un-Islamic, stating that harming women, children and the elderly goes against the fundamental principles of Islam and justice.
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Conviction and contested case
Khan and his wife were convicted on January 17, 2025, in the Al Qadir Trust case, one of several cases brought against him since his removal from office. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Bushra Bibi received a seven-year sentence.
Prosecutors allege the couple caused a loss of 50 billion Pakistani rupees, around £140 million, to the national treasury by granting illegal benefits to a property developer in exchange for land linked to a charitable trust.
Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have strongly rejected the charges, calling them politically motivated and part of a wider crackdown on opposition figures in Pakistan.
His supporters have consistently accused the military establishment of orchestrating legal cases to sideline him from politics — allegations the military denies.
Sons’ visit dispute
Khan’s sons have expressed a desire to visit Pakistan to see their father but say they have been unable to do so due to visa issues.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Atta Tarar said they could travel using their NICOP, a national identity card issued to overseas Pakistanis.
However, Khan’s former wife Jemima Goldsmith rejected the suggestion, arguing that entering Pakistan on Pakistani documents would leave their sons without British consular protection.
Ongoing cases and political impact
Khan remains imprisoned at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi and continues to face multiple legal challenges.
In addition to the corruption conviction, he is also facing cases under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act linked to nationwide protests May 9, 2023, following his initial arrest. The unrest saw attacks on military-linked installations across the country.
Despite his incarceration, Khan remains a central figure in Pakistan’s political landscape. His supporters continue to campaign for his release, alleging an intensifying crackdown on dissent and opposition voices.
