A United Nations expert has warned that the detention conditions of Bushra Bibi could seriously harm her physical and mental health. She urged Pakistani authorities to take immediate corrective steps.
Bushra Bibi is the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. She is currently serving a seven-year sentence in the £190 million corruption case. Last week, a special court also sentenced her and Imran Khan to 17 years each in the Toshakhana-II case.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture Alice Jill Edwards said the state must protect Bushra Bibi’s health. She stressed that detention conditions must respect human dignity.
Edwards said reports from Adiala Jail raised serious concern. According to her statement, Bushra Bibi remains confined to a small and poorly ventilated cell. The cell reportedly stays overheated, unclean and infested with insects and rodents. Power outages allegedly leave the cell in darkness for extended periods.
She added that authorities allegedly provide unsafe drinking water and food rendered inedible by excessive chilli powder. These conditions have reportedly caused severe weight loss, repeated infections and fainting spells.
#Pakistan: Bushra Bibi Khan, the wife of former Pakistani prime minister #ImranKhan is being detained in circumstances that could pose a serious risk to her physical & mental integrity — UN expert on torture urges immediate action to address the situation.https://t.co/QNk31jxzS5 pic.twitter.com/jayZ7YgWgO
— UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) December 24, 2025Edwards also pointed to untreated medical issues, including a tooth abscess and a stomach ulcer. She said contaminated food during earlier detention likely caused these complications.
“These conditions fall far below international standards,” Edwards said. She stressed that detainees must not face extreme heat, unsafe food or untreated illness. She also reminded Pakistan to consider age, gender and health when holding detainees.
The UN expert expressed alarm over reports of prolonged isolation. According to her statement, Bushra Bibi often remains alone for more than 22 hours a day. Some periods reportedly lasted more than 10 consecutive days.
Read: UN Rapporteur Warns Imran Khan’s Detention Conditions May Be “Inhuman”
During these intervals, she allegedly lost access to exercise, reading material, legal counsel and family visits. Edwards warned that such isolation worsens psychological distress and removes essential safeguards.
She urged authorities to ensure regular access to lawyers, family members and meaningful human contact throughout detention.
Earlier in April, prison officials submitted a report to the Islamabad High Court that presented a different account. The report claimed Bushra Bibi lived in a separate, furnished room. It said doctors conducted health checks twice daily and provided cooling facilities, lighting and an LCD television. Officials also stated that she could prepare her own meals under medical supervision.
