Inside the Prison Cell - A Report on Imran Khan's "Prison Conditions" by Supreme Court's Amicus Curiae - Barrister Safdar Raises Concerns Over Imran Khan’s Prison Conditions and Health
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s lawyer and Supreme Court's appointed Amicus Curiae, Barrister Salman Safdar, in his report to the Supreme Court of Pakistan on 11th February 2026, exposed the excruciating and inhumane conditions of Imran Khan’s prison cell and raised alarm over his deteriorating health due to being kept in prolonged solitary confinement without access to proper medical treatment.
In the report, Barrister Salman Safdar states that on 26 September 2023, Mr. Khan was transferred to Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, where he is presently held. He further stated:
“Imran Khan told that approximately three to four months earlier, until October 2025, he had normal 6 x 6 vision in both eyes. He then began experiencing persistent blurred and hazy vision, which he repeatedly reported to the then Jail Superintendent. However, no action was taken by the jail authorities to address these complaints".
“Imran Khan appeared visibly perturbed and deeply distressed by the loss of vision and the absence of timely and specialised medical intervention. Throughout the meeting, the Petitioner's (Imran Khan) eyes were watery, and he repeatedly used a tissue to wipe them, reflecting physical discomfort.”
Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s son, Kasim Khan, raised concerns about his father’s health in a statement posted on social media:
“We have been informed that my father, Imran Khan, has lost most of the vision in his right eye, with reports indicating only 15% eyesight remains. This is the direct consequence of 922 days of solitary confinement, medical neglect (including denied blood tests), and the deliberate denial of proper treatment in jail. The responsibility lies squarely with the regime in power, the Army Chief, and those enabling this cruelty. This physical deterioration is happening under their watch and responsibility. They have manipulated the justice system to keep my father in solitary confinement.
My brother and I are still being denied visas to see our father as his health deteriorates. History will record this injustice. We urge human rights bodies, legal institutions, and democratic nations to confront this persecution and ensure those responsible face consequences.” 12th February 2026
Previously, Imran Khan’s sisters also raised alarm over the uncertainty surrounding his health, stating that he had not been allowed to meet his family for months and that they had received no clear updates about his wellbeing. Noreen Khan, through her social media account, posted:
“I am a sister, and today my question is directed at the corridors of power. According to multiple journalists and media sources, our brother, Imran Khan, was taken under the cover of night to PIMS Hospital on the pretext of eye treatment, kept there for three hours, and then transferred back to Adiala Jail in an atmosphere of extreme mystery and terrifying silence.
If this news is true, it is not merely oppression—it is an open crime. Why does no one have the courage to tell the truth to Imran Khan’s family and lawyers? Who is this being hidden from, and on whose orders? What treatment is our brother being subjected to inside the jail, and why are our family and lawyers being kept in the dark?
Imran Khan is not just another prisoner, he is the hope of this nation. To endanger his health is, in effect, an attempt to blind the entire nation.
This is no longer a request, it is a final warning!
Immediately allow Imran Khan’s family, personal doctors, and lawyers to meet him, make his complete medical reports public, and inform the nation why and in what condition our brother was taken to the hospital under the cover of night.
Remember, if even the slightest harm comes to Imran Khan’s eye, this injustice will not be buried in silence. After that, no one else’s eyes will remain safe.”
Imran Khan himself has repeatedly reiterated that this fascism and brutality against him and his wife in prison are being carried out on the orders of the military dictator, Asim Munir calling him a “Zehni Mareez” (Mentally Unstable Person), who is leading a military-backed and illegitimate government for the past two years. In one of his statements from jail, Imran Khan said:
“If anything happens to me in jail, Asim Munir and DG ISI will be responsible.” Former Prime Minister Imran Khan,16th July 2025
"Asim Munir is behind all this. He has no morals or understanding of Islam. My message to him is this: No matter how much pressure you put on me, even if you imprison everyone from my family, I will neither bow down nor accept this oppression. I will keep fighting for our true freedom, no matter what." Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, August 26, 2025
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Dr. Alice J. Edwards, has also written a letter to the Government of Pakistan regarding the alleged inhumane treatment, psychological torture, and violations of human rights of arbitrarily detained former Prime Minister Imran Khan, urging authorities to immediately halt the violations and prevent their reoccurrence. In her letter, she stated:
"In Adiala Jail, Mr. Khan is reportedly placed in a cell measuring 1.8 m x 2.4 m (equating to 4.32 m2), which is above the minimum requirement of 3.4 m2 per person set by the International Committee of the Red Cross,2 but considerably less as a single room standard specified by the Council of Europe of 6 m23. Information provided indicates his cell is equipped with a simple cot with a mattress, a small table and chair, and a makeshift open washroom area. The cell is monitored by surveillance cameras 24 hours a day. The toilet is partially enclosed by a 1.2 m high wall and has no roof or door.
There are no windows or sources of natural light and ventilation; while artificial lighting is insufficient. As the cell is unheated, it is extremely cold during the Winter period, while during the summer it was extremely hot. The stagnant air often develops a bad smell and insect infestations, as there is no proper airflow or climate control. As a result, Mr. Khan reportedly suffered nausea and apparent weight loss, particularly during days of extreme heat. Owing to inadequate food and filthy water, he also suffered severe vomiting.
It is reported that Mr. Khan remains in solitary confinement, kept in his cell for at least 23 hours a day, with almost no access to the outside world except for when he is taken out to attend court hearings, or since October 2025 for irregular family visits. He is not permitted any outdoor times for fresh air or outdoor exercise, and while he may do some light exercises alone in his cell, he is not permitted to interact with any other prisoner. Mr. Khan has not been allowed to join communal prayers, or Eid prayers. He is allegedly forced to pray alone in his cell, and, when he does that, he is under surveillance. Furthermore, prison officers and staff often speak to him in a threatening or highly disrespectful manner reportedly to intimidate or demoralize him."
Link to full report: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=30613
Under Asim Munir’s watch, a former Prime Minister in state custody is facing serious health deterioration while basic transparency remains in question. This is not something to be taken lightly anymore. There should be an international outcry over this authoritarian rule in Pakistan, where the basic rights of the people including those of a former Prime Minister, the leader of the largest political party, and the country’s most popular leader are being trampled by a military dictator.
When someone is imprisoned, their health becomes the responsibility of those in power. The denial of timely, independent medical treatment violates the UN Nelson Mandela Rules and international human rights law. Every day of delay risks irreversible harm.
This isn’t politics anymore. It’s about whether power is being used responsibly or ruthlessly.
Note: For the complete report from Supreme Court's Amicus Curiae Barrister Salman Safdar, read below.