Lahore

Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has been denied access to his legal counsels and kept in solitary confinement for over three months, his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) alleged on Monday, expressing concern over what it described as a violation of constitutional and human rights norms.

In a statement, the PTI said the prolonged isolation of the 73-year-old leader amounts to treatment that international law views as harmful and potentially cruel or inhuman, particularly when imposed without adequate justification or safeguards.

Khan has remained behind bars since August 2023, following his arrest in multiple cases registered against him after his government was removed from power through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022.

The party said restrictions on Khan’s jail meetings were tightened early last month by the military-backed government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following remarks made by Khan against Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir.

After meeting his sister in jail on December 4, Khan had described Munir as “mentally unstable” in a post on X, triggering a complete ban on all forms of meetings with lawyers, family members and party leaders, the PTI said.

According to the party, Khan has been confined to a single cell for more than three months and denied even the basic facilities guaranteed under the jail manual. It added that the authorities have failed to explain why he has been barred from meeting his legal team, despite access to lawyers being a constitutional right for all prisoners.

The PTI also criticised what it termed the “Form-47 government” — a reference to its claim that the results of the February 8, 2024 general elections were manipulated to install the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government with the backing of the military establishment.

Following the elections, Khan had accused the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of stealing his party’s mandate by altering polling results to form the government.

The PTI has organised several protests demanding Khan’s release and has announced another large-scale demonstration on February 8 to mark what it calls the second anniversary of its “stolen mandate.”

The government initially justified restrictions on Khan’s meetings by citing alleged violations during visits by family members and party leaders, claiming that political discussions and instructions were taking place inside the jail. The ban was later extended until February 8, 2026, citing national security concerns.

“We demand immediate access for Imran Khan’s lawyers and family members,” the PTI said, reiterating that continued isolation of a former prime minister raises serious legal and humanitarian questions.

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In his most recent post on X, Khan accused Field Marshal Munir of presiding over the erosion of constitutional rule and fundamental rights in Pakistan.