Pakistan Court Orders Family Meetings, Phone Calls For Imran Khan
Pakistan court orders family access and better jail conditions.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has barred any further solitary confinement of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, and directed Adiala Jail authorities to facilitate meetings between them according to prison rules. The court also ordered authorities to ensure that Khan's family members can meet him as permitted under the rules and make arrangements for telephone conversations with his sons.
The 73-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician and Bushra Bibi are currently detained at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where they are serving prison sentences in corruption and related cases. The ruling came after Khan's sister, Aleema Khan, challenged his alleged solitary confinement, while Bushra Bibi's daughter, Mubashara Khawar Maneka, filed a separate petition concerning her mother's detention conditions.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro directed the jail authorities to provide Khan with newspapers and books every day and ensure that he receives medical facilities in accordance with prison rules. The Adiala Jail superintendent was instructed to implement the court's directions and submit a compliance report within 15 days. The orders address several concerns raised by Khan's family regarding his access to relatives, communication and basic facilities.
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Khan has remained in prison since August 2023 after a series of convictions that he and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have described as politically motivated. His supporters and relatives have repeatedly raised concerns about restrictions on family meetings and medical care, allegations that the government has rejected. Bushra Bibi was first imprisoned in January 2024 following a corruption-related conviction and was released on bail in October that year before being arrested again in January 2025 following another conviction.
Khan's health and medical treatment have also been the subject of ongoing legal proceedings. Last month, Pakistan's Supreme Court directed the government to shift him to Shifa International Hospital after concerns were raised over his health, including an eye condition. However, he was taken to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on the night of August 20-21 for a medical procedure and diagnostic examinations before being returned to Adiala Jail. The government cited security concerns for the decision.
Khan's family subsequently approached the court, arguing that the transfer to PIMS did not comply with the Supreme Court's direction. A contempt petition has been scheduled for hearing on September 16 before a three-member bench comprising Justices Shahid Waheed, Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Ishtiaq Ibrahim. The bench is also expected to hear pending matters concerning Khan's health and family meetings, while the latest IHC ruling requires Adiala Jail authorities to demonstrate compliance with its directions.
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