ISLAMABAD — British journalist Charles Glass has been deported from Pakistan after authorities refused his request to meet the former prime minister Imran Khan, who is currently held in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.
According to reports, Glass, a veteran journalist known for his extensive coverage of conflicts in the Middle East, was escorted to the airport and had his visa canceled. This move followed his unsuccessful attempts to obtain permission from Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to visit Khan.
Glass, a US-born British national, had reached out to Naqvi via email, explaining that he was denied access to Khan despite a court order. Khan has been in jail since August 5 of the previous year, facing multiple charges from terrorism to corruption, which he vehemently denies.
The 72-year-old former cricket star recently expressed a willingness to negotiate with the military to resolve the ongoing political turmoil that began with his removal in a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
Four days prior to his deportation, Glass had publicly disclosed being barred from meeting Khan in prison. Arriving in Islamabad last week, he had emphasized that his visit was purely personal, stating, “I am here as a friend of Imran Khan, not as a lawyer or activist.”
Glass has been a prominent journalist for over 45 years, covering major conflicts across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. He recently made headlines for his support of Julian Assange and Imran Khan, arguing that both were imprisoned for challenging U.S. interests. Assange was released from the UK’s Belmarsh prison on June 25 after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges related to classified U.S. documents.
Glass is also the author of “Soldiers Don’t Go Mad: A Story of Brotherhood, Poetry, and Mental Illness During the First World War,” reflecting his deep engagement with issues of conflict and mental health.