Particle.news
Download on the App Store

UN Torture Rapporteur Says Imran Khan’s Detention May Amount to Torture

The independent expert formally raised the case with Pakistan to press for an immediate end to prolonged solitary confinement.

Overview

  • UN Special Rapporteur Alice Jill Edwards warned that Imran Khan’s reported detention conditions could constitute torture or other inhuman or degrading treatment.
  • Edwards described 23-hour-per-day isolation in Adiala Jail with highly restricted contact and constant camera surveillance since September 2023.
  • She noted that solitary confinement beyond 15 days is considered psychological torture under international law and urged it be lifted without delay.
  • Information received cites no outdoor activity or communal prayers, curtailed legal and family visits, and a small cell lacking natural light and adequate ventilation.
  • Khan, 72, with prior spinal and gunshot injuries, has reportedly been denied adequate medical care as domestic pressure grows, with PTI welcoming the UN move, family and allies alleging access curbs, and a government adviser citing security grounds for denied visits while unverified death rumors remain disputed.