Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is reportedly being held in near-total isolation in a cell designated for death row prisoners, with no access to the outside world. Qasim Khan, his 26-year-old son, claimed on 27 November that despite court orders allowing visits, the family has been denied contact. According to him, Imran has not been allowed to speak to family members by phone, nor has any confirmation of his well-being been provided.
Qasim described the conditions as psychological torture, alleging that his father is confined for 22 hours a day, denied medical consultation, and completely cut off from communication for six months. He called this “planned cruelty aimed at undermining his mental strength.”
The family, including Qasim, his elder brother Suleiman Khan, and Imran’s former wife Jemima Goldsmith, have petitioned the United Nations and global human rights organisations to investigate and ensure that Imran is allowed court-sanctioned visits, and that proof of his health is made available.
Protests have also been staged outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi by Imran Khan’s three sisters—Nureen, Alima, and Uzma Khan—and senior PTI officials. Demonstrators are demanding verification of Imran’s condition and permission for family visits. On Friday, they temporarily paused their overnight demonstration to file a contempt of court case against the jail superintendent at Islamabad High Court.
The Pakistani government has reportedly warned that if Imran’s sons attempt a visit, they may face arrest. Imran Khan has been in custody since August 2023, facing multiple cases including corruption and anti-terrorism charges.
Government officials maintain that Imran Khan is in good health, dismissing speculation about his condition circulating on social and foreign media. However, opposition parties continue to demand unrestricted access to the former prime minister, issuing warnings of nationwide demonstrations should their demands be ignored. The situation has heightened political tensions and drawn international scrutiny over Pakistan’s handling of political detainees.