UN body warns detention of Imran Khan’s wife may endanger her health

The United Nations human rights office has expressed serious concern over the detention conditions of Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan, warning that they may pose a grave risk to her physical and mental wellbeing.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the authorities to take immediate steps to safeguard her health and ensure that her treatment in custody complies with international standards of human dignity.

Bushra Bibi, 73, has been imprisoned since January 2025 in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case. Last week, she and Imran Khan were each handed a further 17-year sentence in the Tosha Khana II case.

The UN Special Representative on Violence, Alice Jill Edwards, said it was the responsibility of the state to protect Mrs Khan’s health and to provide detention conditions that respect basic human rights.

According to information cited by the UN, Bushra Bibi is reportedly being held in a small, windowless cell with poor ventilation, unsanitary conditions and extreme heat, allegedly infested with insects and rodents. Frequent power cuts are said to leave the cell in complete darkness.

The statement also raised concerns over access to food and water, claiming that she has been provided with unsafe drinking water and meals that are reportedly inedible due to excessive spices.

The UN noted that her health has significantly deteriorated during detention. Reports indicate she has lost nearly 15 kilograms in weight and suffers from repeated infections, fainting spells and dental infections.

She is also said to be experiencing untreated medical conditions, including stomach ulcers, which reportedly developed early in her incarceration due to contaminated food.

Further concerns were raised over prolonged isolation.

The UN said Bushra Bibi is allegedly confined alone for more than 22 hours a day, at times for periods exceeding ten consecutive days, without access to exercise, reading material, legal counsel, family visits or her personal doctors.

Ms Edwards stressed that detainees must be allowed regular contact with lawyers and family members and must not be deprived of meaningful human interaction, warning that extended isolation can intensify psychological distress and prevent access to essential safeguards.