ISLAMABAD – Pakistani prison authorities on Wednesday dismissed circulating rumors suggesting that former Prime Minister Imran Khan had been secretly moved from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail or was facing health issues. The clarification comes amid claims by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party that Khan had been held in isolation and denied family visits for six weeks.
Adiala Jail officials confirmed that Khan remains in Adiala Jail and is in good health, stating:
“The founder of PTI is present in Adiala Jail and is completely healthy. There is no truth to the rumors regarding his health. His health is fully taken care of.”
PTI spokesperson Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari strongly criticized the continued denial of family visits, emphasizing that Khan’s family should have immediate and unhindered access. He added that according to legal and humanitarian norms, families have the right to know the location of a detainee and meet them without delay.
Bukhari highlighted that despite court orders, Khan had not been allowed a family meeting for six weeks, noting repeated failed attempts by the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to visit him. Khan’s sisters were seen protesting outside Adiala Jail once again on Wednesday, calling attention to their brother’s statutory rights.
The detention of Imran Khan has remained a highly contentious political issue in Pakistan since 2023, leading to nationwide protests, arrests of PTI workers, and ongoing courtroom battles. While PTI continues to allege unlawful isolation, the government insists all measures are legal and monitored by the courts.
International human rights observers have previously expressed concerns over due process, political freedoms for PTI, and the treatment of detainees in cases linked to Khan.
