Foreign journalist deported after attempt to interview jailed Imran Khan

A British-American author and journalist was deported after he attempted to hold an interview with the incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan at Adaial jail.

73-year-old Charles Glass was given only five hours to leave the country after being spotted outside Adiala Jail with Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan. 

Glass, a freelance journalist with a career at prominent news outlets including Newsweek, ABC TV, and The Telegraph, was in Pakistan to conduct an interview with the former prime minister.

He had been staying at the residence of journalist Zahid Hussain when a large contingent of Islamabad police arrived on Wednesday noon to inform him that he was to be deported by 5pm.

Concerned about how he would manage to catch a flight on such short notice, Glass was told by an Assistant Superintendent Police (ASP) that a flight to Abu Dhabi would depart at 4pm and that he should proceed to the airport immediately.

Mr Glass was reportedly taken to his residence to collect his belongings before authorities deported him to the Middle East.

“Mr Glass wondered how he would secure a flight and said his luggage is still at [his lodgings]. The ASP offered to accompany him to the hotel to collect his luggage and informed him that there was a flight to Abu Dhabi available at 4pm, which he should take to leave the country. The ASP said he had a clear order to deport the journalist” sources said.

PTI leaders confirmed Glass's deportation on the microblogging platform X. However, law enforcement authorities in Islamabad did not release any statement on the matter.