UK peers press govt on Imran Khan’s health, urge rights-linked ties with Pakistan
Imran Khan with his former brother-in-law Zac Goldsmith outside Kingston mosque, London, in 2009. PHOTO: Newsquest SL
The imprisonment and reported deteriorating health of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan came under sustained scrutiny in the UK Parliament on Tuesday, with peers across party lines urging the Labour government to intensify diplomatic engagement with Islamabad and consider linking aid and trade to human rights benchmarks.
The issue was raised during oral questions led by Baroness Alexander of Cleveden, who asked about discussions with the government of Pakistan regarding Khan’s incarceration.
Zac Goldsmith, a former UK Foreign Office minister and Khan’s former brother-in-law, voiced concern over his prison conditions. Speaking during a motion laid out by Baroness Alexander, Goldsmith said that while Khan’s case was an internal matter for Pakistan, the denial of basic human rights could not be ignored.
The treatment of Imran Khan at the hands of the Pakistani government is an international outrage.
Today Peers across the House urged the UK Foreign minister to step up@ImranKhanPTI pic.twitter.com/2PQcn9jgeLBaroness Alexander said: "While Pakistan’s judicial processes are, of course, a matter for Pakistan, we are clear that the Pakistani authorities need to respect fundamental freedoms, including the right to a fair trial, due process, humane detention and access to appropriate medical treatment." She also cited the example of Jimmy Lai for comparison.
Responding on behalf of the Foreign Office, Baroness Chapman of Darlington said that access to healthcare and family is for everyone regardless of nationality. Referring to Lai, she noted that he is a British citizen, giving the UK specific consular responsibilities that do not apply to foreign nationals in the same manner.
Goldsmith said, "We understand that Imran Khan has been denied access to lawyers. He's been denied access to his family, including his two sons, my nephews, " and that, "he has been denied access even to doctors. We understand that he has spent much of his time in prison, in solitary confinement, and that his health is deteriorating rapidly."
He also raised the possibility of reviewing UK aid to Pakistan.
"Pakistan is often at the top of the list of UK aid until that country's government demonstrates a clear and unambiguous commitment to the Commonwealth Charter that it signed up to, which commits it to an independent judiciary and the rule of law," he said.
Lord Purvis of Tweed cited the last UK-Pakistan trade dialogue announced in July 2025 and said, "there was regrettably no reference to human rights."
"Can the minister reassure the House that in our trading relationship, we are recognising human rights as a critical part of that, and we're not offering preferential market access to military enterprises committing human rights concerns?" he said.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon noted that Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, are British citizens.
Also read: IHC removes objections on Imran, Bushra appeals in Toshakhana-II case
"Can the Minister use her best offices to ensure facilitation of the two sons meeting their father? Especially during his acute and important treatment, which he needs on the decision of the courts of Pakistan to ensure that medical attention is received while having access to his family," he said.
Lord Sikka questioned the possibility of ending aid and imposing sanctions in situations of human rights violations.
"What moral imperative is guiding the government's foreign policy?" he asked.
The Foreign Office representative replied, "We cannot end all aid to Pakistan because of counter-terrorism issues we work on together, as well as the environment," reiterating that the current foreign policy is acting in the UK's best interest.
Lord Mohammad of Tinsley said Pakistan has a history of imprisoning its leaders, citing Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
"In 2019, the government allowed Nawaz Sharif to visit the UK for medical treatment, so if the family and party members of Imran Khan were to put in a similar request, what would the government's response be?" he asked.
Lord Hannan of Kingsclere said the "reason why Imran Khan is in prison is that he would win a free election... Can the UK government possibly set out a timetable whereby we're encouraging the authorities in Pakistan to allow a free and inclusive election," which will allow the return of democratic and economic stability in the country.
Khan has been in custody since August 2023 and is serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with the May 9, 2023 protests.
A day earlier, his sister Aleema Khan criticised the PTI leadership for what she described as inaction over her brother’s release and health.
“The party seems relaxed, as if the founder’s treatment has already been completed. We are not seeing any action from PTI on his health matters. Enough is enough – anyone who cannot carry the weight of the founder’s narrative should step aside,” she said while speaking to reporters outside the Islamabad High Court.