A Pakistan High Court on Tuesday (September 1, 2026) directed jail authorities to ensure that former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi are not kept in solitary confinement.
Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro announced the verdict while holding the petitions challenging the alleged solitary confinement of Khan and Bibi as maintainable.
His supporters and relatives have repeatedly alleged that authorities have restricted his access to family members and adequate medical care. The government has rejected such allegations. The government defended its decision to take him to PIMS, citing security concerns. The ruling also set out provisions for Khan’s family meetings, phone calls, reading material and medical care. Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party and supporters have maintained that the cases are politically motivated, while the government has rejected allegations of mistreatment.
The former Pakistan PM has remained in prison since August 2023 following convictions that he and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party have described as politically motivated. Separately, the Supreme Court on Monday (August 31, 2026) rejected a request by Imran Khan’s sister Uzma Khan for an early hearing of a contempt petition against government officials over alleged non-compliance with its August 18 order directing the former prime minister’s transfer to a private hospital, Dawn News reported. The Supreme Court had on August 18 ordered the government to shift Khan to the private-run Shifa International Hospital following months of concerns raised by his family and supporters over his health, particularly an eye condition diagnosed earlier this year. The Supreme Court on Monday (August 31, 2026) rejected the request for an early hearing under its case-fixation policy, noting that 94 other criminal original petitions in the same category were pending before the Supreme Court, Dawn News reported. Rawalpindi’s Aiala jail superintendent has been asked to implement the directions and submit a compliance report within 15 days, according to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Earlier reporting noted: The 73-year-old cricketer-turned-politician and his wife have been in custody since August 2023 and is serving prison terms in corruption and related cases.
Earlier reporting noted: Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro also ordered the jail to provide Khan with newspapers and books every day and ensure access to medical facilities as prescribed under jail rules. Earlier reporting noted: A Pakistan high court on Tuesday directed authorities at Rawalpindi Jail to ensure that former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi are not held in solitary confinement.
