Khawaja Asif rejects claims Imran’s sons denied visas, says they can visit Pakistan on NICOPs

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday rejected claims that the sons of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan had been denied visas to enter Pakistan, saying they could visit the country on their National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPs).

“The children of the founder of PTI last travelled to Pakistan on these NICOPs in 2022. And today, if they want, they can visit Pakistan. Both NICOPs are valid. It is wrong for the family or PTI to give the impression that the government is not giving them visas,” the defence minister said in a post on X.

The statement came in response to reports that Imran’s sons had been barred from travelling to Pakistan. A day earlier, the Information Ministry had also rejected similar claims, saying that both held valid NICOPs. According to the ministry, a valid NICOP is a recognised travel document for entry into Pakistan and can be used by the two men to travel to the country.

Asif further said in his statement that, with valid NICOPs, the two could travel to Pakistan whenever they wanted and did not require visas.

He also shared the details of the NICOP for both of Imran’s children: “Sulaiman Khan: NICOP (35202-273-22XX-1) is available, which is valid until January 6, 2030”, and “Kasim Khan: NICOP (35202-782-76XX-1) is available, which is valid until November 8, 2032”.

Last week, Imran’s sons appeared on Sky News and reiterated their concerns about their father’s health. At the beginning of August, Kasim and Sulaiman had expressed concern about Imran’s poor health, telling CNN that authorities prevented family members, lawyers and doctors from visiting the jailed former premier for months.

They said they have not seen their father since November 2022. The duo also claimed that they applied for visas in January this year but have yet to receive a response from the relevant authorities.

Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the protests of May 9, 2023.

In March 2026, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had said that Imran’s sons did not require visas to visit Pakistan to meet their father, who was currently in prison.

Read: Imran’s sons don’t need visas to visit Pakistan: Tarar

His statement came in response to an appeal from Imran’s ex-wife, Jemima Goldsmith, to the premier, urging the government to allow Kasim and Sulaiman to visit their father in jail.

“His children are welcome to visit Pakistan on their NICOP cards as Pakistani citizens, for which no visa is required. However, they will fully comply with the laws of Pakistan during their stay,” he said in a post on X.

Read More: Kasim accuses govt of ‘deliberately refusing’ to process visas, obstructing meeting with Imran

Kasim had accused the government in February of deliberately refusing to process his visa and that of his brother to prevent the siblings from meeting their father. He said that denying a prisoner treatment was cruel and denying his children the right to see him was collective punishment.

Last year, Imran’s sister Aleema Khan had told reporters that the brothers would participate in a protest movement planned for August 5, 2025.

Later, it was reported that Imran had stated his sons would not be coming to Pakistan to join the protest. The brothers had later held meetings with key individuals in the United States.

Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. In addition, he faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) related to the protests of May 9, 2023.