Imran Khan: Imprisonment

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Excerpts

Wednesday 25th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We have very real concerns about the inappropriate use of military courts and the lack of transparency in the way they operate. We discuss this, as the noble Lord would want us to do, with Government of Pakistan. Having a flourishing trading relationship is helpful when it comes to being able to raise these matters effectively. I take on board completely his point about our need to make sure that human rights are integral when we make these decisions.

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Sikka (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, we have plenty of time. We will hear first from the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad, and then we will come to the Labour Benches.

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)]

My Lords, I thank the Chief Whip. Following on from the question from my noble friend Lord Goldsmith, specific facilitation can be done. The Minister—for whom many in the House, if not all, have great respect—can practically help to facilitate access for British citizens. Sulaiman and Kasim, the sons of Imran Khan, are British citizens. I ask the Minister please to use her best offices to facilitate the two sons meeting their father, particularly as he is now receiving the acute and important medical treatment he needs, on the decision of the courts of Pakistan, to ensure that that medical attention is supported by family access of his own two sons.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We want those imprisoned, particularly when they are undergoing such intensive medical treatment, as I believe has happened—I think a successful operation took place in January, and there has been further treatment since—to have access to family members, whether through visits or other means. That is important at times like these. This is slightly complicated by the fact that, as the noble Lord will appreciate, decisions about the Pakistan immigration system are controlled by the Pakistani Government, but we make the general case that we would want to see access to family for anyone held in such circumstances.