UN Special Rapporteur calls for immediate end to Imran Khan’s solitary confinement

WEB DESK: The UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, has urged the Government of Pakistan to immediately address reports of inhumane detention conditions faced by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, warning that they may amount to torture or other degrading treatment.

Since his transfer to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on 26 September 2023, Khan has reportedly been held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day, under constant camera surveillance, with extremely limited access to the outside world. Visits from lawyers, family members, and court-authorised individuals have allegedly been frequently interrupted or cut short.

Edwards stressed that prolonged solitary confinement exceeding 15 days constitutes a form of psychological torture under international law. She called for Khan’s isolation to be lifted immediately, noting that extended confinement could severely harm his physical and mental health.

Reports indicate that Khan’s small cell lacks natural light, proper ventilation, and temperature regulation, with poor air circulation causing foul odors and insect infestations. These conditions have reportedly led to nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Khan, 72, has a history of serious health issues, including a spinal injury and gunshot wounds. Edwards urged Pakistani authorities to allow visits by his personal physicians to ensure proper medical care. Following a 20-minute meeting with sister, Uzma Khan, it was told to the media that Imran’s health was “Alhamdulillah fine,” but he ‘appeared extremely angry’. She said that Imran Khan said he was being subjected to mental torture inside the jail.

“Anyone deprived of liberty must be treated with humanity and dignity,” Edwards said, emphasising that detention conditions should reflect a detainee’s age, health, and physical needs, including adequate sleeping arrangements, lighting, heating, and ventilation.

The Special Rapporteur confirmed that she has raised Khan’s case with the Pakistani government and will continue to monitor developments closely, calling on authorities to bring his detention in line with international human rights standards.