Tarar says Imran's sons welcome on NICOP, promises Eid call amid visa dispute

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday said the sons of former prime minister Imran Khan are welcome to visit Pakistan using their National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP), amid an ongoing controversy over visa delays.

Responding to an appeal by Jemima Goldsmith, Tarar said that Kasim and Suleiman Khan, as Pakistani citizens, do not require visas if they hold valid NICOPs. He added that a phone call between Imran Khan and his sons would be arranged on Eid, as has been done previously, while emphasising that they would be required to comply with Pakistani laws during their stay.

Jemima had earlier urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene, highlighting that her sons applied for visas in January but had yet to receive them despite standard processing times of 7–10 working days. She also noted that they had not been able to speak to their father or send him letters and had not seen him since 2022.

Imran Khan is currently incarcerated at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, and his sons, who reside in London with their mother, would need to travel to Pakistan to meet him. Jemima stressed concerns about his health and appealed for urgent permission for the visit.

The issue has drawn political reaction, with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) criticising the government over what it called deliberate delays in processing travel documents. The party termed the situation a violation of basic human and family rights, accusing authorities of political victimisation.

PTI also claimed that applications for NICOP renewal submitted by Imran’s sons remain pending, arguing that the delays reflect bad faith. It urged the government to allow the visit, particularly in light of concerns surrounding the former premier’s health, and said restricting family contact was against the norms of a civilised society.