Will House of Lords push Britain to confront Pakistan over Imran Khan’s imprisonment?

UK peers raise alarm over Khan

Concerns about the imprisonment and deteriorating health of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan have reached the floor of the House of Lords, where peers from across the political spectrum voiced unease over his treatment in custody.

During a debate in the upper chamber, members called for medical access, the right to family visits and assurances that any legal proceedings against Khan are conducted freely and fairly. Several described the situation as deeply troubling and urged the British government to take up the matter more robustly with Islamabad.

Among the strongest interventions came from Zac Goldsmith, who labelled Khan’s treatment “an international outrage” and pressed the Foreign Office to step up diplomatic engagement. Tariq Ahmad focused on the humanitarian dimension, urging ministers to help facilitate a meeting between Khan and his sons, Qasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan, both British citizens. He argued that when a detainee’s health is under question, access to close family becomes all the more urgent.

Labour peer Jenny Chapman also called for Khan’s release and insisted that he should be given the best available medical care.

Responding for the government, Jenny Chapman said the United Kingdom consistently advocates family access in cases where prisoners require medical treatment. However, she stressed that decisions on prison visits and immigration permissions rest with the Pakistani authorities. While affirming that human rights concerns are raised with Islamabad, she stopped short of promising any direct intervention.

The exchange in the Lords reflects growing anxiety over Khan’s wellbeing in custody — concerns repeatedly raised by his relatives and party colleagues. They have alleged restricted access to doctors, inadequate medical supervision and limitations on contact with family members. His sister has publicly claimed that his health has worsened behind bars and warned of possible mistreatment, heightening fears among supporters that his life could be at risk.

Peers also linked the case to broader questions about democratic governance in Pakistan. As a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, and with an estimated 1.5 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK, Pakistan’s political trajectory carries resonance in Britain. Several lawmakers argued that transparent elections and protection of opposition leaders from political victimisation are not purely domestic concerns but matters with international consequences.

Whether London chooses to intensify diplomatic pressure remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that Imran Khan’s detention has moved beyond Pakistan’s borders and into the realm of sustained international scrutiny.