UN torture expert decries Imran's 'inhumane and undignified detention'

The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, has urged Islamabad to take immediate and effective action to address reports of "inhumane and undignified detention conditions" of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In a statement issued on Friday, Edwards called on the Pakistani authorities to ensure that Khan’s conditions of detention fully comply with international norms and standards.

“Since his transfer to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on 26 September 2023, Imran Khan has reportedly been held for excessive periods in solitary confinement, confined for 23 hours a day in his cell, and with highly restricted access to the outside world,” the UN expert said. “His cell is reportedly under constant camera surveillance.”

The Special Rapporteur stressed that prolonged or indefinite solitary confinement is prohibited under international human rights law – and when it extends longer than 15 days, it constitutes a form of psychological torture.

“Khan’s solitary confinement should be lifted without delay. Not only is it an unlawful measure, extended isolation can bring about very harmful consequences for his physical and mental health,” she said.

According to information received, the expert said that Khan is not permitted outdoor activity or interaction with other detainees and is unable to join communal prayers.

Visits from lawyers, family members and others authorised by the courts are frequently interrupted or ended prematurely.