Pakistan Court Orders End to Solitary Confinement for Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, Mandating Timely Family Meetings

The Islamabad High Court has barred any further solitary confinement for jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. Under the court’s directives, Adiala Jail authorities must facilitate regular meetings between the couple, allow family visits, and arrange phone calls between Khan and his sons. The prison administration has been ordered to implement these changes and file a compliance report within 15 days.

RMN News Legal Desk
New Delhi | September 1, 2026

Islamabad High Court Rules in Favor of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi

In a significant legal development, the Islamabad High Court has issued directives to end the solitary confinement of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. Both are currently serving lengthy sentences at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

Presiding over the case, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro ruled that jail authorities must adhere strictly to prison regulations regarding inmate welfare. The court’s decision directly addresses the restrictive conditions of their detention, providing much-needed relief to the cricketer-turned-politician and his spouse.

Family Petitions Spark Judicial Intervention

The high court’s intervention follows separate legal challenges filed by the family members of the detained couple. Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, filed a petition protesting the alleged solitary confinement of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party founder. Simultaneously, Bushra Bibi’s daughter, Mubashara Khawar Maneka, submitted a petition raising concerns over her mother’s treatment in prison.

By ruling in favor of these petitions, the Islamabad High Court has mandated that the jail administration facilitate regular, timely meetings between Khan and Bushra Bibi. Furthermore, Justice Soomro ordered the superintendent of Adiala Jail to allow Khan’s family members to visit him in accordance with standard prison protocols.

Court Restores Communication and Basic Amenities

Beyond physical visitation, the court’s order aims to restore basic communication channels for the former prime minister. The Adiala Jail authorities are now required to:

• Facilitate Telephone Calls: Set up and manage scheduled telephone conversations between Imran Khan and his sons.
• Provide Reading Materials: Supply Khan with daily newspapers and books to ensure he remains connected to external events.
• Ensure Medical Care: Provide necessary medical facilities inside the prison as prescribed by jail rules.

The superintendent of Adiala Jail is tasked with executing these directives immediately and must submit a formal compliance report to the court within 15 days.

Ongoing Legal Battles and Health Concerns

The seventy-three-year-old former prime minister has been incarcerated since August 2023. Khan and his political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, maintain that the numerous corruption convictions against him are politically motivated—a claim the Pakistani government has consistently denied.

Bushra Bibi’s legal path has been similarly tumultuous. First arrested on January 31, 2024, she was granted bail in October of that year after nearly nine months in detention. However, she was re-arrested on January 17, 2025, following a separate corruption conviction and has since received additional sentences.

Medical treatment for Khan remains a highly contentious issue. Last month, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered the government to transfer Khan to the private Shifa International Hospital to address long-standing health concerns, including an eye condition diagnosed earlier this year.

However, on the night of August 20-21, 2026, authorities instead transferred Khan to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for a medical procedure and diagnostic tests before returning him to Adiala Jail. Khan’s family has filed a contempt petition, arguing this transfer directly violated the Supreme Court’s explicit orders. The government defended the move, citing security risks.

A three-member judicial bench consisting of Justices Shahid Waheed, Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Ishtiaq Ibrahim is scheduled to hear this contempt petition, along with other pending cases regarding Khan’s health and visitation rights, on September 16, 2026.