Human rights activists and international organizations have renewed urgent calls for Pakistani authorities to restore former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s access to family members, legal counsel, and adequate medical care as he marked three years in prison on Wednesday. Amnesty International urged officials to immediately end what it termed unlawful restrictions and solitary confinement for both Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi Khan, following a series of mounting health concerns and prolonged isolation.
Amnesty International and UN Experts Condemn Detention Conditions
According to Amnesty International, Pakistan’s authorities have systematically denied Khan the right to a fair trial, subjected him to prolonged solitary confinement, and heavily restricted his visitation rights over the past three years. Isabelle Lassee, Amnesty’s acting regional director for South Asia, stated that Khan has not been allowed to meet his family for more than eight months. Both Khan and his wife have also been denied regular access to legal counsel since December 2025, according to the human rights organization.
The United Nations has repeatedly raised alarms over the detention conditions. In 2024, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Khan’s imprisonment was arbitrary and violated international human rights law. The following year, the UN special rapporteur on torture stated that the detention conditions of Khan and his wife fell below international standards. More recently, Alice Jill Edwards, the UN special rapporteur on torture, called on Pakistan to end its inhumane treatment of Khan, noting that he had been held in near-total solitary confinement for 33 months under round-the-clock CCTV surveillance.
Health Concerns and Legal Battles Amid Three Years in Custody
Khan, 72, has remained in custody since August 5, 2023, following an earlier arrest during nationwide unrest in May of that year. The former cricket star was originally removed from office in April 2022 after losing a parliamentary vote of no-confidence. Although he has won acquittals in several matters—including official secrets cases and a case concerning his marriage to Bushra Bibi—he is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence in a corruption case. Additionally, Khan and his wife were sentenced in December 2025 in a separate case involving state gifts, though both convictions are under appeal and Khan has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Concerns have intensified regarding Khan’s physical health during his third year behind bars. Earlier this year, doctors diagnosed him with a blocked retinal vein in his right eye, a serious medical condition capable of causing significant vision loss. While a government medical board later reported that his condition had improved, his lawyer stated that treatment delays left him with roughly 15 per cent vision in the affected eye. Records show Khan received five injections at a government hospital between January and June, while his family continually pressed authorities to permit examinations by his personal doctors.
Did You Know? In 2024, Pakistan’s government submitted photographs and details of Khan’s cell to the Supreme Court to counter claims of mistreatment. The submitted images depicted a single bed, a study table, a walk gallery, fitness equipment including an exercise bike, and a collection of books that included Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom.”
Political Standing and Upcoming Demonstrations
Despite his ongoing incarceration, Khan remains Pakistan’s most influential opposition figure. His party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), reported that he has faced complete isolation with zero meetings permitted for more than eight months. Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, a close aide to Khan, argued on social media that both Khan and his wife possess fundamental rights to a fair trial and basic prisoner protections. Bukhari told reporters that Khan enjoys greater popularity today than ever before, asserting that the Pakistani public recognizes his stance stands for democracy.
Political analysts indicate that Khan’s lengthy imprisonment has only served to solidify his standing among ordinary citizens, particularly younger demographics. Salman Rafi Sheikh, an assistant professor of politics at Lahore University of Management Sciences, told Nikkei Asia that Khan symbolizes resistance to military interference in politics for many young Pakistanis, and that his incarceration has reinforced that narrative. Sheikh added that Khan’s refusal to accept a release deal reflects his position that Pakistan’s democratic crisis stems from unelected military intervention in civilian governance.
Expert Insight: The intersection of legal appeals, international human rights pressure, and grassroots mobilization highlights a deeply polarized political landscape in Pakistan. While the government maintains that detention facilities meet proper standards, the refusal of opposition figures to accept compromises points toward a protracted political standoff that will likely continue to shape national elections and public demonstrations for the foreseeable future.
What May Happen Next
As the anniversary of his detention unfolds, Khan’s family, party loyalists, and supporters are organizing coordinated gatherings and marches. Aleema Khan, the former prime minister’s sister, has toured towns across Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to rally public support for a planned August 5 march toward Adiala Jail, where Khan is held. In response to these upcoming demonstrations, Amnesty International has urged Pakistani authorities to facilitate the right to peaceful protest and ensure there is no repetition of what it characterized as unlawful and arbitrary crackdowns on protesters.
Legal teams for Khan and Bushra Bibi are expected to continue pursuing appeals against their active corruption and state gift convictions in higher courts. Concurrently, international human rights monitors will likely maintain pressure on Pakistani authorities to lift solitary confinement restrictions and grant independent medical evaluations.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Imran Khan first taken into custody?
Imran Khan has remained in custody since August 5, 2023, after he was previously arrested during nationwide unrest in May of that year.
What legal sentences is Imran Khan currently serving?
Khan is serving a 14-year prison sentence in a corruption case and received an additional sentence in December 2025 in a separate case involving state gifts. Both convictions are currently under appeal.
What specific health issues has Khan faced in prison?
Earlier this year, Khan was diagnosed with a blocked retinal vein in his right eye, a condition that can cause significant vision loss and required five injections at a government hospital between January and June.
How do you view the impact of prolonged solitary confinement on high-profile political figures and democratic stability?