UN experts have called on Pakistan’s government to take immediate action to address reports of inhumane and undignified detention conditions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, warning that they could amount to torture or other degrading treatment. The message was issued by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, who emphasized that Khan’s current conditions violate international human rights standards.
Edwards noted that since his transfer to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on September 26, 2023, Khan has reportedly been confined to solitary for 23 hours a day under constant camera surveillance, with extremely limited access to the outside world. “Prolonged or indefinite solitary confinement is prohibited under international law and constitutes psychological torture when extended beyond 15 days,” Edwards said, urging that his isolation be lifted immediately.
The statement highlighted that Khan is denied outdoor activity, interaction with other detainees, and participation in communal prayers. Visits from lawyers, family members, and court-authorized individuals are frequently interrupted or prematurely ended. His small cell reportedly lacks natural light, adequate ventilation, and temperature control, leading to foul odors, insect infestations, nausea, vomiting, and noticeable weight loss.
Edwards stressed, “Anyone deprived of liberty must be treated with humanity and dignity,” adding that detention conditions should accommodate age, health, and necessary medical care. Khan, 72, has pre-existing health issues, including a spinal injury and gunshot wounds from a 2022 assassination attempt, yet reportedly continues to be denied adequate medical attention. The Special Rapporteur has called for his personal physicians to be allowed access and will continue monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, Khan’s ex-wife, Jemima Goldsmith, highlighted on X that her sons have been unable to see or speak to their father for 22 months. She accused social media platforms of throttling her posts, limiting public awareness of his alleged political imprisonment and denial of basic human rights.
Rumors about Khan’s condition intensified following unverified reports from Afghan media claiming he had died in custody. His son Kasim Khan demanded proof of life, noting that the former prime minister has allegedly been held in a “death cell” for six weeks without family access.
Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 in multiple cases, with tight restrictions on visits reportedly enforced under the direction of an army officer, according to PTI. The party demands that regular, unhindered meetings be permitted in accordance with court directives, as political tensions around the opposition leader continue. (Agencies)
