Islamabad – August 2, 2025:
A fresh twist emerged on Friday in the ongoing visa controversy involving Imran Khan’s sons, as the Ministry of Interior publicly contradicted claims made by the former prime minister’s sister, Aleema Khanum.
Earlier in the day, Aleema had taken to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that Imran’s sons—Suleiman and Kasim Khan—had recently submitted visa applications to the Pakistan High Commission in London, and were waiting for clearance from Islamabad.
“A few days ago, Suleiman and Kasim applied for their visas with the Pakistan High Commission in London. The ambassador has intimated that he is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad,” Aleema posted.
However, just hours later, officials from the Interior Ministry flatly rejected the claim. In a statement shared with The Express Tribune, sources clarified that no visa applications from Imran Khan’s sons were under review, nor was the ministry involved in such matters.
“The assertion that the visa matter is being dealt with by the Ministry of Interior is contrary to the facts,” a senior ministry official stated, adding that the issuance of family or any type of visa falls under the jurisdiction of Pakistan’s foreign missions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the interior ministry.
The issue also prompted a strong reaction from Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, who cast doubt over Aleema’s earlier insistence that Imran’s sons held National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP).
“If they already have NICOPs, why would they need visas?” Chaudhry asked, suggesting the claim raises deeper questions about their nationality status. “If they do need visas, that would imply they are not Pakistani nationals. So, what is the truth?”
Aleema Khan has previously maintained that Imran’s sons are Pakistani citizens and would eventually visit him in jail. “If anything were to happen to them, it would become an international issue,” she had told reporters, stressing that their visit was a matter of time.
Meanwhile, the PTI leadership earlier dismissed rumors that Imran Khan had advised his sons not to come to Pakistan or participate in political activities. The party termed such reports “baseless and misleading.”
Although the government has not issued a formal stance, Talal Chaudhry added that Suleiman and Kasim were welcome to visit Pakistan, and that there would be no hurdles in their way — provided all legal protocols were followed.
“Visas could be issued in less than 24 hours,” he said, “as long as they obey the law.”
