RB News World Latest News
Related Articles
The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, has demanded that the Pakistani government immediately end the solitary confinement and inhumane detention conditions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), she warned that these conditions could amount to torture or inhuman treatment. This statement was issued on December 12, 2025.
Imran Khan in Solitary Confinement for Two Years
Since September 26, 2023, Imran Khan has been imprisoned in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. He is being held in prolonged solitary confinement, confined to a small cell for 23 hours a day. His contact with the outside world is severely restricted. The cell is under constant camera surveillance. There is a lack of natural light and ventilation. Temperatures become extremely harsh during both summer and winter. The lack of air circulation leads to foul odors and insect infestations. Imran Khan has complained of vomiting, nausea, and weight loss as a result. He is not allowed to exercise outdoors. He is not permitted to meet with other prisoners or participate in congregational prayers. Meetings with lawyers and family members are frequently interrupted or cut short.
What is the UN Expert’s Legal Position?
Prolonged or indefinite solitary confinement is prohibited under international human rights law.
If solitary confinement lasts for more than 15 days, it is considered psychological torture.
The expert stated, “Imran Khan’s solitary confinement must end immediately. It is unlawful and can cause serious harm to his physical and mental health.”
Every person in detention is entitled to humane and dignified treatment.
Pakistan has been urged to fully comply with international standards.
What will happen next?
The UN expert has raised Imran Khan’s case with the Pakistani government. She will monitor the situation and follow up accordingly. Alice Jill Edwards is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. This statement increases international pressure regarding Imran Khan’s detention. However, the Pakistani government has not yet issued an official response. Imran Khan, who has been serving sentences in Pakistan’s Adiala Jail since 2023,
was primarily convicted in several corruption cases…
The most significant sentence came in January 2025 in the Al-Qadir Trust case, where he was accused of accepting land as a bribe from a real estate developer while he was prime minister.
He also received sentences in the Toshakhana case for illegally selling state gifts, the Cipher case for leaking classified state documents, and the Iddat case for an illegal marriage.
Imran and his party, the PTI, claim that all these cases are part of a political conspiracy aimed at keeping him out of power.
He remains in jail until December 2025 due to these sentences, although some of the earlier sentences have been suspended on appeal.
