Pakistan 'deports' British journalist who arrived to meet Imran Khan in jail

• Authorities reject journalist's request to meet Imran Khan.
• Sources say Glass arrested at his residence in Islamabad.
• Aleema Khan, PTI give statements about denial of permission.

LONDON: The Pakistani authorities has deported British journalist Charles Glass for “violating” the terms of his visa conditions after he attempted to visit Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, who is incarcerated at Adiala jail, sources affiliated with the government said on Thursday.

Charles Glass, reportedly a friend of Khan, arrived in Islamabad last week and sought permission to visit the former prime minister. However, the government denied his request, media reports suggested.

A source within the interior ministry said that Glass had obtained a visit visa from Pakistan High Commission, London and submitted an affidavit that he was visiting the country as a tourist to meet friends and that he would not indulge into any journalistic or campaigning activity.

"The author was visiting Pakistan on visit/tourist visa. When a journalist is visiting a country on visit/tourist visa, he is not allowed to engage in journalistic activities. Nevertheless, Glass started journalistic activities which is against media ethics, international norms and procedures. This was the reason for his deportation," the source said.

Meanwhile, sources affiliated with the Pakistan High Commission said that the author may have obtained visa from Italy as a tourist and not from London.

"We have no record for him. We have heard he got a tourist visa from Italy. It’s clear Charles Glass broke Pakistani rues. Tourist visas prohibit any form of paid or freelance work, including journalism. Engaging in professional activities without the appropriate visa is considered a violation of immigration and labour laws," they added.

The interior ministry sources reported that Glass was detained by police at his residence in Islamabad and subsequently escorted to Islamabad airport for deportation.

In a letter to the Ministry of Interior, Glass maintained that he was not allowed to meet Khan despite the court’s order.

“I want to meet my friend (Imran Khan) at Adiala jail,” the British journalist added.

In a video, Glass can be heard saying that he was barred from visiting the deposed prime minister despite his close personal ties with him. The journalist stated that he was in the country as Khan’s friend rather than in any official or activist capacity.

In an article published in May supporting the release of Australian author Julian Assange and PTI founder, Glass had argued that both figures were imprisoned for challenging US interests.

Khan’s sister Aleema Khan also posted on X about the incident, saying: “When Mohsin Naqvi [interior minister] has to resort to deporting Imran Khan’s friends visiting from overseas, it speaks volumes about the government’s state of mind and panic. First, their guilt and fear was visible to us in Pakistan. Now, it is evident internationally as well.”

She added that the senior journalist’s visa was also cancelled and the police escorted him to the airport, asking him to leave immediately.

PTI also put out an official statement on X calling it “undeclared martial law” and an effort by the ruling parties, supported by the military, to suppress information about Khan’s detention and his alleged mistreatment.