Minister says Imran's sons need no visas

Asif says both brothers can enter Pakistan on valid Nicops

ISLAMABAD:

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday said PTI founder Imran Khan's sons, Kasim and Sulaiman Khan, could return to Pakistan "today if they wished", saying their National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (Nicops) remained valid and did not require them to obtain visas.

In a post on social media platform X, Asif recalled that Imran's sons had last travelled to Pakistan on their Nicops in November 2022, when the PTI founder was injured in an assassination attempt.

"They can visit Pakistan today if they wish. Both Nicops are valid," Asif stated.

He also shared partially censored Nicop numbers for Kasim and Sulaiman, stating that Kasim's document was valid until November 8, 2032, while Sulaiman's was valid until January 6, 2030.

The minister dismissed the perception that the government was denying the brothers visas as "incorrect", accusing Imran's family and PTI of concocting the narrative.

"Holders of Nicops can travel to Pakistan whenever they wish. There is no need for a visa," he maintained.

A day earlier, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had addressed the potential arrival of Imran's sons, noting that they could enter the country through their Nicops, but cautioning that entry into Pakistan might not necessarily guarantee access to prison visitation.

Kasim and his older brother Sulaiman live in London with their mother and Imran's former spouse, Jemima Goldsmith. They would therefore have to travel to Pakistan to meet Imran, who is imprisoned at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail.

The minister's remarks came amid a dispute over the brothers' ability to travel to Pakistan and visit their imprisoned father. The government has consistently maintained that Imran's sons can enter the country on their Nicops without visas, while the brothers earlier this month claimed that their documents had expired and accused the government of denying them visas.