By Admin 
United Nations (UN) Special Envoy on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, has demanded the Pakistan government to immediately end the solitary confinement and inhumane detention conditions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Posting on X, he warned that these conditions could amount to torture or inhuman treatment. This statement was issued on 12 December 2025.
Imran Khan in solitary confinement for 2 years
Imran Khan is lodged in Adiala Jail of Rawalpindi since 26 September 2023. He is being kept in solitary confinement for a long time. They remain locked in a small room for 23 hours every day. Contact with the outside world is very limited. The cell is under constant camera surveillance. There is a lack of natural light and air. The temperature becomes very bad in summer and winter. There is bad smell and insects due to lack of air. Due to this, Imran has complained of vomiting, nausea and weight loss. No permission to roam outside. There is no permission to meet other prisoners or participate in collective prayers. Meetings between lawyers and family are repeatedly interrupted or ended early.
What is the legal aspect of UN experts?
- Prolonged or indefinite solitary confinement is prohibited under international human rights law.
- If solitary confinement lasts more than 15 days, it is considered psychological torture.
- The expert said, ‘Imran Khan’s solitary confinement should be ended immediately. This is illegal and can cause serious harm to physical and mental health.
- Every person in prison should receive humane and respectful treatment.
- Pakistan has been asked to completely follow international standards.
What will be the further action?
UN expert has raised the issue of Imran Khan with the Pakistan government. She will keep an eye on the situation and follow up further. Alice Jill Edwards is an independent expert appointed to the UN Human Rights Council. This statement increases international pressure on the detention of Imran Khan. However, the Pakistan government has not yet given any official reply.
Serving sentence in Pakistan’s Adiala jail since 2023
Imran Khan was convicted in several corruption cases mainly…
- The biggest punishment was given in January 2025 in the Al-Qadir Trust case, where he was accused of taking land as bribe from a real estate developer while he was the Prime Minister.
- Apart from this, there were also convictions on charges of illegal selling of government gifts in the Toshakhana case, leaking of state confidential documents in the Cipher case and illegal marriage in the Iddat case.
- Imran and his party PTI call all these matters a political conspiracy, the aim of which is to keep them away from power.
- He remains in jail because of these convictions until December 2025, although some of his old convictions have been suspended on appeal.