Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has sparked controversy after publicly disclosing the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) numbers and expiry dates of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan’s sons, Sulaiman Khan and Kasim Khan. Critics questioned the legality and ethics of revealing such sensitive personal information.
In posts shared on his official X and Facebook accounts, Asif stated that Khan’s sons last entered Pakistan in 2022 using their NICOPs and suggested they could still travel to the country using the same documents if they wished. Alongside these remarks, he published their NICOP numbers and expiration details, drawing immediate backlash.
This development followed an interview broadcast on August 27, in which Sulaiman and Kasim spoke to Sky Sports about their father’s detention. They alleged that Imran Khan was being denied adequate medical care, held in solitary confinement, and restricted from regular family visits. The interview also triggered tensions involving the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which reportedly protested the broadcast and threatened player withdrawals from an ongoing match. However, after discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board, the match proceeded, with England winning by 194 runs to take the series.
Asif’s decision to reveal the brothers’ identification details provoked widespread criticism on social media, with many users expressing concerns about privacy violations and the protection of personal data. Former of Pakistan news director Shafiq Qureshi highlighted that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 criminalizes unauthorized transmission or use of another person’s identification information. He also referenced the NADRA Ordinance, emphasizing that citizens’ identity records are confidential, and cited Article 14 of the Constitution, which safeguards individual dignity and privacy.
Other social media users called for action against the post under Section 16(1) of PECA, which stipulates penalties of up to three years imprisonment, fines up to Rs5 million, or both for unauthorized possession, transmission, or sale of identity information.
Meanwhile, the debate extended beyond privacy issues. Several commentators speculated that Sulaiman and Kasim might avoid traveling to Pakistan due to fears of arrest or legal repercussions, despite holding valid NICOPs. Questions arose about whether they would be treated differently from other overseas visitors given their father’s incarceration. These concerns, however, remain unverified.
Others pointed to Imran Khan’s sisters, who reside in Pakistan, questioning whether their presence has allowed them regular access to their father. The discussion also included a surge of hostile and personal attacks directed at Khawaja Asif, reflecting the deeply polarized political climate surrounding Khan’s imprisonment and his family.
In a significant development, the controversy has shifted focus from Asif’s initial claim—that Khan’s sons can enter Pakistan using their NICOPs—to a broader conversation about the handling of citizens’ identification data and the security implications for the former prime minister’s family.
