New Delhi: Pakistan is all praise for Jemima Goldsmith, British screenwriter, and Imran Khan’s ex-wife, after she expressed serious concerns regarding the former prime minister’s treatment in prison and called for his release. Pakistanis have hailed her as ‘the queen’, and added that ‘this is what true love is all about’.
In a post on X, she alleged that in the last few weeks, there have been “serious and concerning developments regarding my sons’ father, Imran Khan’s treatment in prison.” She further added that Pakistan authorities had stopped all visits to Imran from his family and his lawyers, while also postponing his court hearings.
“In addition to cutting off in-person visits, and in defiance of a court order, his weekly calls to his sons, Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, who are British and who live in London, were stopped on 10th September. We have received reports that the authorities have now turned off the lights and electricity in his cell and he is no longer allowed to leave his cell at any time. The jail cook has been sent on leave. He is now completely isolated, in solitary confinement, literally in the dark, with no contact with the outside world. His lawyers are concerned about his safety and well-being,” her post stated.
She ended the post with an urgent call for Imran Khan’s release, along with the release of his sisters and nephew, and for his sons to be allowed to contact their father to ensure his well-being.
Khan and Goldsmith were married in 1995 and divorced in 2004. Khan has been in detention since August 2023.
Also read: Imran Khan’s party expects Jaishankar to save Pakistan democracy. And Modi to free him
‘Bullied by PML-N goons’
Goldsmith also highlighted the broader ongoing repression, stating that the authorities are targeting Imran Khan’s family and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party members in an attempt to suppress opposition.
She pointed out that Imran’s nephew, Hassan Niazi, has been detained since August 2023. She also pointed out the recent arrest of his sisters, Uzma and Aleema Khan, when they peacefully attended a demonstration.
She criticised their imprisonment, calling it unlawful, adding that she has been “bullied and harassed into silence”.
“I disagree with IK on many political matters,” Goldsmith wrote. “But this isn’t about politics—this is about my children’s father, his human rights, and adherence to international law.”
In 2021, Goldsmith had publicly condemned Khan’s opinions on rape culture in Pakistan.
Also read: Pakistanis say ‘stay strong Jemima’ after Zardari accuses her of aiding Imran Khan
Pakistan’s ‘Bhabhi’
YouTuber Moeed Pirzada took to X to heap praises on Goldsmith. He said that she has “immortalised respect for the concept of wife & mother – she stands above religion & culture! She represents a slap on the face of Pakistani conspiracy theorists”.
Another X user said, “If loyalty was a face. Pure Jemima Goldsmith! This is what true love is all about !!”
One X user had a unique take: “imran khan gets in trouble every year just to check if Jemima still cares.”
However, not everyone was happy with ‘Bhabhi’s’ actions. The timing is suspicious to some users.
“Bhabhi you could have tweeted the same thing since the past 1 and half year? Why did you suddenly remember to tweet this on the day of the SCO conference?” a concerned user asked.
But she is no stranger to Pakistanis harassing her.
Earlier in August, Goldsmith had shared how she had to block all her emails because of online harassment. “Pakistani politics… the gift that keeps on giving, even after leaving the country 20 years ago,” she said.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)