Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson urges the UK Government to use its influence with Pakistan over Imran Khan’s imprisonment, as concerns grow over his detention conditions, reports Asian Lite News Desk
Former British prime minister Boris Johnson has called on the UK Government to use its influence with Pakistan to press for the release of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, arguing that Britain should not remain silent over his treatment.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Johnson said the British Government should intervene more forcefully in the case of Khan, who has been held in prison since 2023 and is serving a 14-year sentence in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case.
“Britain must use its influence with Pakistan to press for the release of Imran Khan,” Johnson wrote, arguing that Khan should either be freed or allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest while his legal appeals continue.
Johnson described Khan’s continued imprisonment as a matter in which Britain has a particular interest because of the former Pakistani leader’s long-standing links with the UK.
“I believe the British government should be doing everything it can,” Johnson wrote, pointing to Khan’s years in Britain, his education at Oxford and his high-profile career as an international cricketer before entering politics.
He also argued that the UK should be prepared to use its diplomatic relationships with Pakistan rather than treating Khan’s imprisonment as an issue entirely outside Britain’s concern.
The intervention comes after the Islamabad High Court ordered authorities at Adiala Jail earlier this month to ensure that Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were not kept in solitary confinement. The court also ordered family meetings, telephone access to Khan’s sons and access to newspapers, books and daily exercise.
In its ruling, the court said a prisoner’s rights to life, dignity and humane treatment “are not extinguished at the prison gate”. It also referred to medical records indicating that restricted social and family interaction had affected Khan’s wellbeing.
Johnson’s comments come as Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, continue to campaign internationally over their father’s detention and alleged treatment in prison. They have accused Pakistan’s military leadership of targeting their father, allegations denied by the Pakistani authorities.
The UK Government has previously stopped short of calling for Khan’s release, while saying that Pakistan must uphold basic legal and humanitarian standards.
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told Parliament in September that Pakistan’s judicial processes were a domestic matter, but said Pakistani authorities must respect “fundamental freedoms”, including fair trial rights, due process, humane detention and access to appropriate medical treatment.
Doughty also confirmed that he discussed matters relating to Khan with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during a meeting on 27 August.
The Government has therefore maintained a distinction between respecting Pakistan’s judicial independence and raising concerns about Khan’s treatment in custody.
Johnson, however, argued for a more active British role. His column linked Khan’s case to Britain’s historical, educational and sporting connections with Pakistan, suggesting that those ties give London a reason to speak more directly.
The former prime minister’s intervention adds to international scrutiny surrounding Khan’s imprisonment, while his legal battle in Pakistan remains unresolved.
For Johnson, the issue is not simply the fate of a former political leader but whether Britain is willing to use its diplomatic influence when a figure with longstanding British connections faces prolonged imprisonment.
“The British government should be doing everything it can,” Johnson wrote, making clear his view that London should take a more prominent role in pressing Pakistan over Khan’s detention.
