{
  "id": 4451419,
  "title": "'They can come to Pakistan today': Khawaja Asif disputes claim of Imran's sons of expired Nicops",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/they-can-come-to-pakistan-today-khawaja-asif-disputes-claim-of-imrans",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-30T15:30:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2026174/they-can-come-to-pakistan-today-khawaja-asif-disputes-claim-of-imrans-sons-of-expired-nicops"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Defence Minister Khawaja Asif asserted on Sunday that Imran Khan's sons, Qasim and Sulaiman Khan, can visit Pakistan \"today if they wished\", affirming the validity of their National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (Nicops). The government has consistently maintained that the sons can enter the country without a visa, using their Nicops. However, Qasim had previously claimed that his Nicop had expired and accused the government of denying them visas. Asif reminded that the sons had last travelled to Pakistan via Nicop in November 2022, when Khan was injured in an assassination attempt. The minister shared partially censored Nicop numbers for both Kasim and Sulaiman, stating that Kasim's card was valid until November 8, 2032, while Sulaiman's was valid until January 6, 2030. Asif dismissed claims that the government was denying visas as \"incorrect,\" stating that Nicop holders can travel to Pakistan at any time. Earlier, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had noted that Imran's sons could enter the country through their Nicops, but access to prison visitation is not guaranteed. Kasim and Sulaiman reside in London with their mother and Imran's former spouse, Jemima Goldsmith. They will need to travel to Pakistan to meet Khan, who is imprisoned at Rawalpindi's Adiala jail. In December 2025, Kasim stated that he and his brother had applied for visas, but in February, Kasim alleged that the government was \"deliberately\" refusing to process their visas. Goldsmith made a direct appeal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to grant her sons visas, fearing they would face arrest on arrival due to lack of British protection. Goldsmith also alleged that the government was recommending visa-free travel for her sons, as they would not have British protection, and claimed they did not possess renewed Nicops. Imran was imprisoned on August 5, 2023, in the Toshakhana case, and is currently serving multiple sentences, including a 14-year term for corruption and pending terrorism cases related to the May 9, 2023 riots.",
  "summary": "Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday said that PTI founder Imran Khan’s sons — Qasim and Sulaiman Khan — could visit Pakistan “today if they wished”, citing the validity of their National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (Nicop). The government has consistently maintained that Imran’s children can enter the country based on their Nicops with no visa required. However, the sons claimed…",
  "key_points": [
    "Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says Imran Khan's sons can visit Pakistan today.",
    "Qasim Khan's Nicop valid until November 8, 2032; Sulaiman Khan's until January 6, 2030.",
    "Asif dismisses claims of visa denial as incorrect."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "'They can come to Pakistan today': Khawaja Asif disputes claim of Imran's sons of expired Nicops",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/they-can-come-to-pakistan-today-khawaja-asif-disputes-claim-of-imrans-4451587",
        "published": "2026-08-30T15:30:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}