UN Expert Urges End to Imran Khan’s Solitary Confinement

A United Nations human rights expert has called on Pakistani authorities to end the solitary confinement of former prime minister Imran Khan, warning that the conditions of his detention may amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment under international law. The appeal was made in a statement issued from Geneva by Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture.

Edwards urged Pakistan to take "immediate and effective action" in response to reports that Khan, who has been detained since 2023, is being held in undignified and inhumane conditions. She said authorities must ensure Khan’s treatment and detention conditions fully comply with international norms and standards.

The Special Rapporteur noted that since Khan’s transfer to Adiala Jail on 26 September 2023, he has reportedly faced prolonged solitary confinement, spending up to 23 hours a day in his cell with severely limited access to the outside world. Edwards warned that such restrictions raise serious human rights concerns and should be addressed without delay.