Islamabad High Court Orders Relief for Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, Directs End to Solitary Confinement

ISLAMABAD / NEW DELHI — In a significant legal development for Pakistan’s political landscape, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed Adiala Jail authorities to ensure that former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, are not kept in solitary confinement.

Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro announced the verdict, declaring petitions challenging the couple’s alleged solitary confinement as maintainable. The court had reserved its verdict on August 6 following separate petitions filed by Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khanum, and Bushra Bibi’s daughter, Mubashra Khawar Maneka.

Key Mandates Issued by the High Court

Alongside prohibiting solitary confinement, the Islamabad High Court issued several operational directives to the prison administration:

 Family & Personal Access: Jail authorities must permit regular visits from family members in accordance with official prison rules.

 Communication: The court ordered authorities to arrange routine telephone calls between the 73-year-old former prime minister and his sons.

 Basic Amenities: Adiala Jail management must provide daily newspapers and books to Imran Khan.

 Medical Care: The court mandated that proper medical facilities and attention be extended to both detainees as per jail protocol.

The Superintendent of Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi has been instructed to ensure strict implementation of these orders and submit a compliance report to the High Court within 15 days.

Background of Detention and Medical Concerns

Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 following multiple convictions, which he and his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), maintain are politically motivated. Bushra Bibi was re-arrested in January 2025 following a conviction in a separate corruption-related case and remains held at Adiala Jail.

The High Court ruling comes amidst ongoing friction between Khan’s family and government authorities regarding his medical state. Earlier in August, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had ordered the government to transfer Khan to the private Shifa International Hospital to address health concerns, particularly involving an eye condition. However, authorities instead temporarily admitted Khan to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) citing security reasons, before returning him to Adiala Jail.

A contempt petition filed by Khan’s sister, Uzma Khan, regarding the non-compliance with the private hospital transfer order is scheduled for a hearing before a three-member Supreme Court bench on September 16.