Pakistan’s former prime minister and cricket legend Imran Khan remains steadfast in his beliefs despite being imprisoned. In a recent column for The Times, former England captain Michael Atherton shared insights from a conversation with Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Qasim, who spoke about their father’s condition and unyielding spirit. They said Imran would not compromise and was prepared to die in jail if necessary.

The two sons spoke with their father by phone last Saturday, their first conversation since January. They revealed that the 73-year-old’s right eye has severely deteriorated, yet he remains calm and resilient, using meditation to maintain his composure. Qasim said that even restrictions such as cutting electricity or denying books have made his father spiritually stronger. Sulaiman added that Imran openly declared he would rather die in prison than abandon his principles.

According to his sons, Imran is more concerned about his wife Bushra Bibi’s imprisonment than his own suffering, telling them that while he can endure hardship, attacks on his family are far more difficult.