Even as Imran Khan claimed that he is being “caged like a terrorist” and is being “denied basic prisoner and human rights”, the Pakistan government on Sunday hit back saying that the former Prime Minister was enjoying ‘royal treatment’ in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. Imran, 71, has been imprisoned at the Adiala Jail for almost a year upon his conviction in three cases — the Toshakhana reference, the cipher case, and the Iddat case, in which his wife, Bushra Bibi, is also jailed. Imran Khan made these claims in a rare interview with The Sunday Times , conducted through his lawyers as he reportedly lacks access to pencil and paper while behind bars.
“I am confined in a 7ft by 8ft death cell, typically reserved for terrorists to ensure they have no contact with anyone," The Sunday Times quoted him as saying. “It is solitary confinement with barely any space to move. I am under constant surveillance by the agencies, being recorded 24/7, and I am denied basic prisoner and human rights such as visitation,” he added.
Imran told The Sunday Times that his party “secured a significant majority of approximately 175 seats, not the 93 that were officially acknowledged after being usurped”. He said he spends most of his time in the prison planning for the future, insisting that he will be back. “Despite being caged, the entire country looks to me for hope and resilience.
Most importantly, my prayers keep me steadfast, my belief in God assures me that justice will prevail over tyranny,” he was quoted as saying. Responding to the claims made in the article, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Imran Khan resides in a ‘presidential suite’ in jail. “This convicted person resides in a presidential suite.
He has access to an exercise cycle, a walking area, and a kitchen, and is offered a luxurious menu of his choice for daily meals,” Dawn quoted the minister as saying at a press conference. Tarar further asserted that Khan holds three weekly meetings with his lawyers, friends, family, and political leaders in the specially designated ‘presidential suite’ provided for him. “We have never believed in political victimisation, and we have never practiced it,” he added, dismissing the story as an attempt to mislead the international community.
The minister argued that during his tenure, Imran Khan imprisoned numerous individuals, including women, and recalled the alleged mistreatment of PML-N leaders such as Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, and Rana Sanaullah, who, he claimed, were confined to “7 feet by 8 feet death cells.” “He openly declared that he would deprive them of necessary medication, home-cooked meals, and visits,” Tarar said. “Now, he himself enjoys a lavish lifestyle in jail.
” Tarar insisted he could swear that the government had never issued any directives for differential treatment of Khan compared to other prisoners. Imran Khan’s cases Imran’s sentence in the Toshakhana reference was suspended on April 1, and he was acquitted by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the cipher case in June. Since May 9, 2023 — the day of his initial arrest which sparked riots nationwide and prompted a government crackdown on him and his party — various courts have also acquitted him in several other cases.
Recently, an Islamabad district and sessions court accepted appeals filed by Imran and his spouse against their conviction in the Iddat case. However, shortly after his acquittal in that case, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) re-arrested Imran and his spouse in a new Toshakhana case, leaving their potential release from prison uncertain. Earlier this month, a United Nations working group on human rights declared that the cases against Imran were “without legal basis” and driven by political motives to sideline him from the political sphere.
The group called for the release of the former cricketer and for him to be compensated. Following their recent arrests and detention orders, Imran and his wife sought relief from higher courts. However, Imran was denied bail by the Lahore High Court on charges of allegedly inciting his supporters during the May 9 riots last year.
In a move aimed at further tightening restrictions on Imran, the government announced earlier this week its intention to ban his party, PTI. “In view of the foreign funding case, May 9 riots, and the cipher episode as well as the resolution passed in the US, we believe that there is very credible evidence present to have the PTI banned,” Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had said. “We are going to impose a ban on PTI and we believe that Article 17 of the Constitution gives the government the right to ban political parties, and this matter will be referred to the Supreme Court,” he added.
The announcement drew criticism from various political quarters, with stakeholders from different parties condemning the move as “undemocratic.” The US State Department also voiced concerns over the decision, stating, “Banning a political party would be of great concern to us.” With inputs from agencies.
