A United Nations torture expert has raised urgent concerns over the detention conditions of Bushra Bibi Khan, just days after a Pakistani court sentenced her and former Prime Minister Imran Khan to 17 years in prison in a high‑profile corruption case.
Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, warned that Bushra Bibi is being held in conditions that may endanger her physical and mental wellbeing. She is reportedly confined to a small, airless, insect‑infested cell in Adiala Jail, with frequent power cuts plunging the space into darkness. Edwards urged Pakistani authorities to ensure her treatment meets international human rights standards.
The warning comes less than a week after a special court convicted the couple of unlawfully retaining and selling state gifts — including high‑value jewellery received from Saudi Arabia — at prices far below their market worth while Khan was in office. Prosecutors said the gifts were declared at just over $10,000 despite an assessed value of more than $285,000, allowing the pair to purchase and resell them at a profit. Both have denied wrongdoing.
The dual developments have intensified scrutiny of Pakistan’s justice system and detention practices, with rights advocates calling for transparency and due process as the country navigates one of its most politically charged legal battles in years.
Former Pakistan PM, Imran Khan Wikimedia Picture by Imran Khan
