A UN human rights expert issued a sharp condemnation of the imprisonment conditions for Bushra Bibi Khan, the wife of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan. Special Rapporteur Alice Jill Edwards described a small, unhygienic cell with no ventilation, frequent darkness from power cuts, and the provision of dirty water and rotten food. The expert reported that the detainee has suffered severe weight loss, a stomach ulcer, infections, and episodes of fainting.
The rapporteur also highlighted near total isolation, with blocked access to family, her own doctors, and legal counsel. Edwards stated these persistent conditions violate international standards and damage both physical and mental health, calling for immediate improvements and the restoration of her basic rights to communication and medical care. The statement referenced global rules protecting detainee dignity and setting minimum requirements for cell health, lighting, and ventilation.
Bushra Khan is currently imprisoned on multiple convictions, including a recent seventeen-year sentence related to state gifts and a separate seven-year term in a corruption case. She and her husband deny all charges, calling them political retaliation since his removal from power in 2022. Imran Khan is also jailed on various convictions. The UN had previously raised alarms about his treatment in detention, warning it could constitute torture.
The rapporteur also highlighted near total isolation, with blocked access to family, her own doctors, and legal counsel. Edwards stated these persistent conditions violate international standards and damage both physical and mental health, calling for immediate improvements and the restoration of her basic rights to communication and medical care. The statement referenced global rules protecting detainee dignity and setting minimum requirements for cell health, lighting, and ventilation.
Bushra Khan is currently imprisoned on multiple convictions, including a recent seventeen-year sentence related to state gifts and a separate seven-year term in a corruption case. She and her husband deny all charges, calling them political retaliation since his removal from power in 2022. Imran Khan is also jailed on various convictions. The UN had previously raised alarms about his treatment in detention, warning it could constitute torture.
