Ahead of the third anniversary of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ongoing detention, Isabelle Lassee, Amnesty International’s Acting Regional Director for South Asia, said:
“For three years, Pakistan’s authorities have systematically denied Imran Khan the right to a fair trial, subjected him to prolonged solitary confinement, and limited his access to medical care and visitation rights. He has not been allowed to meet his family for more than eight months and his vision has reportedly deteriorated significantly. Both he and his wife, Bushra Bibi Khan, have now been denied regular access to legal counsel since December 2025.
“Amnesty International urges the Pakistani authorities to unconditionally restore Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi Khan’s right to see their family and lawyers. Both must be given access to adequate medical care and their solitary confinement, which is unlawful, should end immediately.
Amnesty International urges the Pakistani authorities to unconditionally restore Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi Khan’s right to see their family and lawyers
Isabelle Lassee, Amnesty International’s Acting Regional Director for South Asia
“Ahead of planned gatherings by Imran Khan’s family, party and supporters to mark the anniversary, the authorities must facilitate the right to peaceful protest and ensure there is no repeat of the unlawful and arbitrary crackdowns on protesters so frequently witnessed in the country and against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.”
Background
Imran Khan, 72, was elected as Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2018 and ousted from power in April 2022 following a vote of no confidence from parliament. Since then, his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has faced severe restrictions in its political activity and was barred from the 2024 general election. Imran Khan was first arrested on 9 May 2023, which resulted in mass nationwide protests, and again on 5 August 2023. He has been under detention since then. Key members of his party and supporters were subjected to mass and arbitrary arrests after protests on 9 May 2023 and 26 November 2024. Many remain detained under anti-terrorism charges while 85 have been convicted by military courts.
In 2024, Amnesty International analysed cases against Imran Khan and concluded that his imprisonment was unlawful and politically motivated. Since then, in January 2025 he was acquitted in cases involving official secrets and his marriage to Bushra Bibi Khan. However, Imran Khan is currently serving a 14-year sentence related to corruption allegations. Bushra Bibi Khan was also sentenced to seven years in the same case. In December 2025 both were sentenced to an additional 17-year imprisonment in a case involving state gifts.
In December 2025, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture raised concerns that the Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s detention conditions were below international norms and standards. In 2024, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Imran Khan’s detention was arbitrary and in violation of international human rights law.