Alice Jill Edwards, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, has issued a stern warning regarding the detention of Bushra Bibi, wife of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, asserting that her current conditions in Adiala Jail pose a grave threat to her physical and mental well-being. The expert emphasized that Pakistani authorities bear a clear obligation to safeguard her health and provide detention facilities aligned with basic human dignity standards, as outlined in international human rights norms. This intervention highlights growing international scrutiny over the treatment of high-profile political detainees in the country.

Reports detailed in the UN statement describe Bushra Bibi's confinement in a small, poorly ventilated cell that is reportedly unclean, excessively hot, and plagued by insects and rodents, with frequent power outages leaving it in complete darkness. Additionally, allegations include the provision of contaminated drinking water and meals made unpalatable through overuse of spices, contributing to severe health deterioration, including a substantial weight loss of around 15 kilograms, repeated infections, fainting spells, and unaddressed issues such as dental abscesses and gastric complications potentially stemming from prior incidents of food tampering.

Edwards underscored that these circumstances deviate significantly from established minimum international standards for detention, declaring that no individual should endure extreme temperatures, polluted sustenance, or environments that exacerbate pre-existing medical vulnerabilities. She further stressed the necessity for authorities to tailor detention arrangements to factors including age, gender, and specific health requirements, urging prompt remedial actions to mitigate ongoing risks and ensure compliance with global obligations.

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The UN expert expressed particular alarm over Bushra Bibi's extended periods of near-complete isolation, often exceeding 22 hours daily and lasting more than ten consecutive days, with restricted access to outdoor exercise, reading materials, legal representation, family interactions, or consultations with private medical professionals. Such prolonged solitary confinement, Edwards noted, intensifies psychological suffering and obstructs critical protective mechanisms, compounding the dangers posed by inadequate healthcare.

Bushra Bibi remains incarcerated alongside her husband Imran Khan, who has been detained since August 2023 following multiple convictions in corruption-related cases. The Special Rapporteur has officially communicated these concerns to the Pakistani government and pledged continued oversight of the matter. Separately, a local court recently extended interim bail for the couple in cases connected to the May 9, 2023 violence, amid ongoing legal proceedings that underscore the politically charged nature of their detentions.

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