Amnesty urges Pakistan to Restore Imran Khan’s Rights

Amnesty International has renewed calls for Pakistani authorities to restore former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s access to his family, lawyers and medical care as he marked three years in prison.

In a statement, Amnesty called for both to have unrestricted access to legal counsel, family visits and adequate medical treatment.

The organisation also demanded an immediate end to what it described as their unlawful solitary confinement.

Isabelle Lassee, Amnesty International’s acting regional director for South Asia, said Khan had been denied a fair trial and subjected to prolonged isolation since his imprisonment.

She claimed Khan has been unable to meet family members for more than eight months and that reports suggest his eyesight has deteriorated significantly.

Lassee also alleged both Khan and Bushra Bibi have faced severe restrictions on meeting their legal teams since December 2025.

Khan’s political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), echoed those concerns, claiming its leader has remained in complete isolation for more than eight months.

Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, one of Khan’s closest aides, described the situation as “deeply concerning” and insisted both prisoners deserved a fair trial and basic prisoner rights.

He argued Khan remains more popular than ever despite years behind bars and said many Pakistanis continue to view him as a champion of democracy.

Amnesty also urged authorities to protect the right to peaceful protest ahead of demonstrations planned by PTI supporters to mark the anniversary of the prison.

Concerns over Khan’s health have also intensified during the past year after he was diagnosed with a blocked retinal vein in his right eye.

His lawyer claimed delays in treatment reduced his vision in the affected eye to around 15 per cent before he received specialist medical care.

Government-appointed doctors later reported that his condition had improved following five injections administered between January and June.

Khan’s family has continued requesting permission for his personal doctors to assess his condition independently.

The former Pakistan cricket captain has remained in custody since August 5, 2023, following a series of legal cases brought against him after his removal from office.

Although acquitted in several high-profile cases, Khan is serving a 14-year prison sentence for corruption.

He and Bushra Bibi were also sentenced in a separate state gifts case in December 2025, although both convictions remain under appeal.

Khan has consistently denied all allegations and maintains the charges are politically motivated.

International scrutiny has increased throughout his imprisonment.

In 2024, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded his detention was arbitrary and violated international human rights law.

More recently, Alice Jill Edwards expressed concern over Khan’s detention conditions, saying he had spent months in near-total solitary confinement under constant CCTV surveillance.

Pakistan’s government has rejected allegations of mistreatment.

Officials previously submitted evidence to the country’s Supreme Court showing Khan’s prison accommodation, medical facilities and records of family, lawyer and party visits.

Despite remaining behind bars, Khan continues to be Pakistan’s most prominent opposition figure, with analysts suggesting his imprisonment has strengthened support among many younger Pakistanis.