Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has now spent 100 consecutive days without any contact with his lawyers, according to a senior aide, intensifying serious concerns over due process, human rights, and the state of Pakistan’s justice system. The prolonged isolation has sparked renewed debate both inside the country and internationally.
A close aide and senior figure in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, confirmed that Imran Khan has been completely cut off from his legal team while being held in solitary confinement. He has also not been seen by visitors of any kind for nearly three months, raising fears about the transparency of the legal proceedings against him.
Imran Khan, aged 73, was removed from office through a no-confidence vote in 2022 and later arrested in August 2023. Since then, he has faced more than 100 legal cases, including allegations related to state secrets and corruption. Although several charges were dismissed by courts, Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were sentenced in December to 17 years in prison each over a case involving the alleged under-priced purchase of state gifts.
PTI leaders insist the cases are politically motivated and aimed at sidelining Khan from public life. International observers have also questioned the fairness of the process, particularly after PTI was marginalised during Pakistan’s most recent elections.
Khan’s sister Uzma Khan, the last person to meet him on 2 December, said his physical health was stable, but his mental condition was suffering due to prolonged isolation. She described the experience as mental torture, worse than physical harm.
Another sister, Aleema Khan, suggested the extended communication blackout was a deliberate attempt to test public reaction to rumours surrounding his health or possible death. PTI claims the denial of legal counsel violates international law, including the ICCPR and UN principles on access to lawyers, calling the treatment inhuman and degrading.
Pakistan’s authorities have not responded to the latest claims, previously stating that Imran Khan is receiving the same facilities as other inmates.
