ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has said that former prime minister Imran Khan’s sons can visit Pakistan without a visa, as they are Pakistani citizens holding National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (Nicop).

The minister’s remarks came in response to an appeal by Imran’s former spouse Jemima Goldsmith, who had urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to allow their sons, Sulaiman Khan and Kasim Khan, to visit their jailed father amid concerns over his health.

“Imran Khan’s phone call will be arranged on Eid day with his children as done in the past as well,” Tarar said, adding that the two sons are welcome to travel to Pakistan on their Nicop cards and do not require a visa. He, however, noted that they would have to comply with Pakistani laws during their stay.

The development follows claims made by Imran Khan’s lawyer in the Supreme Court that the former premier had suffered a significant loss of vision in his right eye while in custody. A medical board later stated that the swelling had reduced after treatment and his eyesight had improved.

In a post on social media platform X, Jemima said that her sons had applied for visas in January to visit their father but had not received any response even after 60 days, despite the usual processing time being 7–10 working days.

She also pointed out that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had earlier publicly assured that Kasim and Sulaiman could safely travel to Pakistan to meet their father after four years.