Sulaiman Khan, son of jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, has accused the country’s leadership of masking a deepening democratic crisis, alleging that authorities are suppressing dissent while projecting a more favourable image abroad.
Iran FM Araghchi arrives in Pak for US peace talks — Follow live updates
In an interview with Channel 4, Sulaiman claimed the state was focused on “whitewashing their image on the global stage”, even as, he said, human rights abuses continued and democratic institutions weakened. He alleged that ordinary citizens were being detained without due process, with arrests targeting those protesting what he described as an increasingly authoritarian system.
His remarks come as Khan, 73, remains in custody in multiple cases since August 2023, following his removal from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022. His detention has remained a central point of contention in Pakistan’s political landscape, with his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), maintaining that the charges are politically motivated.
US envoys are expected in Pakistan on Saturday in a renewed push to rescue fragile ceasefire talks with Iran, even as Tehran ruled out direct engagement with Washington. The diplomatic effort comes amid an indefinite truce that has halted most fighting, but left global energy markets strained due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan’s capital remains under a tight security lockdown for over a week, with major roads sealed and the high-security Red Zone under strict guard. Commercial areas lie largely deserted, supply chains are disrupted, and public transport has ground to a halt, leaving residents stranded.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday for talks with Pakistani leaders, but officials confirmed there are no plans for direct US-Iran meetings. Instead, Pakistan is expected to shuttle messages between the two sides as it attempts to revive stalled diplomacy.
