Geneva — UN human rights experts have urged Pakistani authorities to act immediately amid reports that former prime minister Imran Khan is being held in conditions amounting to inhumane or degrading treatment, possibly rising to torture.
Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, said Khan has been kept for prolonged periods in solitary confinement since his transfer to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on 26 September 2023. According to information received by the UN, Khan is confined about 23 hours a day, has very limited contact with the outside world, and is under constant camera surveillance.
Edwards stressed that prolonged or indefinite solitary confinement violates international human rights norms and that isolation beyond 15 days can amount to psychological torture. She said Khan’s solitary confinement should be ended without delay, warning that extended isolation can seriously harm physical and mental health.
The material reportedly received by the Special Rapporteur describes severe restrictions on Khan’s movements and interactions: no outdoor activity, no contact with other detainees, and exclusion from communal prayers. Visits by lawyers, family members and court-authorised visitors are said to be frequently interrupted or cut short. Khan’s cell is described as small, lacking natural light and adequate ventilation, with extreme temperatures in summer and winter, poor air circulation, foul odours and insect infestations. The information also reports that Khan has experienced nausea, vomiting and noticeable weight loss.
Edwards emphasized that anyone deprived of liberty must be treated with humanity and dignity and that detention conditions should take account of age and health. She noted Khan is 72 and has pre-existing health issues, including a 2013 spinal injury and gunshot wounds sustained in a 2022 assassination attempt, and urged authorities to permit visits by his personal physicians.
The Special Rapporteur has raised these concerns with the Government of Pakistan and said she will continue to monitor developments.
On social media, Khan’s ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith appealed to Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter), saying their two sons have been prevented from seeing or speaking to their father for 22 months and alleging her posts about him are being throttled. Unverified Afghan media reports claiming Khan had died in custody have fuelled rumours about his condition; his son Kasim Khan has publicly demanded proof of life, alleging his father has been held in what he called a “death cell” for six weeks and stating it has been “845 days” since Khan was jailed—an assertion presented as his claim.
Khan has been detained since August 2023 on multiple charges. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), his party, says strict visiting rules were imposed for more than a month under the direction of an army officer—a claim Pakistani officials deny. PTI welcomed a recent meeting between Khan and Uzma Khanum as a step forward but has called for regular, unhindered visits in line with court orders as political tensions persist around the jailed opposition leader.
The Special Rapporteur’s findings reflect reports received and have been shared with Pakistani authorities for their response. This article is based on a syndicated feed and published as received.
