Imran Khan: Imprisonment

Baroness Alexander of Cleveden Excerpts

Wednesday 25th February 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Alexander of Cleveden]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Pakistan regarding the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, particularly with regard to his access to medical care.

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Baroness Chapman of Darlington) (Lab)]

My Lords, while Pakistan’s judicial processes are, of course, a matter for Pakistan, we are clear that the Pakistani authorities need to respect fundamental freedoms, including the rights to a fair trial, due process, humane detention and access to appropriate medical treatment. This applies to Imran Khan as it does to all Pakistan citizens. Ministers and officials have regularly raised with Pakistani counterparts the need to uphold Pakistan’s constitution and international human rights obligations, including with respect to Imran Khan.

[Baroness Alexander of Cleveden (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend the Minister for her Answer. As she will be aware, there are a number of parliamentary Questions outstanding on this matter, given the deterioration in Imran Khan’s health recently. I am aware that the FCDO has been particularly responsive to the case of Jimmy Lai and his family. In that context, it would be helpful if my noble friend would commit to meeting with Imran Khan’s family and specifically raising his case with the Government of Pakistan.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for that question. Obviously, there is an important difference between the cases of Jimmy Lai and Imran Khan, because Jimmy Lai is British. We have specific responsibilities and obligations towards our citizens that, whatever else we might think about these cases, do not apply in the same way when we are talking about someone of a different nationality. However, I assure my noble friend that Ministers and officials have raised, in the appropriate way, as she would want them to do, our concerns about cases when we need to, including the case of Imran Khan.