UN experts have urged Pakistan to take immediate action to address reports of inhumane and degrading detention conditions faced by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, warning that they could amount to torture. The statement was made by UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, on Friday, who called on Pakistani authorities to ensure Khan’s detention complies with international standards.

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 highly restricted access to the outside world. Edwards emphasized that prolonged solitary confinement exceeding 15 days constitutes psychological torture and called for its immediate end, noting the serious risks to Khan’s physical and mental health.

Reports indicate Khan is denied outdoor activity, interaction with other prisoners, and participation in communal prayers. Visits from lawyers, family members, and authorized individuals are frequently cut short. His cell reportedly lacks natural light and ventilation, experiences extreme temperatures, and suffers from poor air circulation and infestations, leading to nausea, vomiting, and noticeable weight loss.

Edwards stressed that all detainees must be treated with dignity, and detention conditions should account for age and health, including proper sleeping arrangements, climate control, space, lighting, and ventilation. Khan, 72, has a history of serious health issues, including a spinal injury and gunshot wounds, yet reportedly lacks adequate medical care. She urged that his personal physicians be allowed access.

Imran Khan’s situation continues to be monitored by the UN. Meanwhile, his ex-wife, Jemima Goldsmith, highlighted on X that her sons have been unable to see or speak to Khan for 22 months, criticizing visibility restrictions on her posts about him. Rumors about Khan’s condition escalated after unverified Afghan media reports claimed he had died in custody, prompting his son Kasim Khan to demand proof that he is alive.

Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 in multiple cases, with strict restrictions on visits reportedly enforced under the direction of an army officer—a claim officials deny. PTI maintains that limited recent meetings are only a first step and calls for regular, unhindered access in line with court directives amid ongoing political tensions.