Imran Khan, former Prime Minister and founding chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has claimed that he is being held in a high-security cell at Adiyala Jail, likening his confinement to that of a terrorist. In a rare interview with the Sunday Times, Khan described his cell as a cramped 7x8ft space, typically reserved for terrorists to prevent any contact with others.
He described the conditions as solitary confinement with minimal room to move and continuous government surveillance, which he argues violates basic prisoner and human rights.
Read more: Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi Challenge Toshakhana Case Arrests at IHC
The interview, conducted through his legal team due to restrictions on his access to writing materials, revealed Khan’s dire situation. He has been at Adiala Jail for almost a year following convictions in multiple cases. Despite securing bail or having some convictions overturned, he remains incarcerated.
Imran Khan was initially detained by paramilitary forces on August 5 last year following a conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case.
Since then, he has been held on various charges. After a recent court ruling set aside his conviction in the Iddat case and ordered his release if no other charges were pending, Khan was re-arrested hours later on a different Toshakhana case, along with his wife, Bushra.
The PML-N government has dismissed Khan’s claims, with Information Minister Atta Tarar denying that he is being held in a death row cell.
