The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday declared that petitions challenging the alleged solitary confinement of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were maintainable. The court directed Adiala jail authorities not to put either of them in solitary confinement. The verdict, reserved on August 6, was announced by Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro.
Major Highlights
- IHC declares Imran, Bushra Bibi’s solitary confinement petitions maintainable
- Court directs jail authorities to arrange meetings of the couple
- Superintendent Adiala jail directed to submit compliance report within 15 days
- If recordings are used for politics, phone calls with Imran’s sons can be taken back
- Earlier, the Information Ministry dismissed allegations of solitary confinement as “misleading” Court Orders
🚨🚨#BREAKING: Justice Khadim Hussain Somro of the Islamabad High Court has approved the petitions filed by Bushra Bibi and Aleema Khanum against @ImranKhanPTI solitary confinement, ordering the Adiala Jail authorities to restore all visitation rights within 25 days.
— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) September 1, 2026
Family Access and Basic Facilities
Justice Soomro ruled on maintainability based on legal principles laid down in the cases of Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Begum Shamim Afridi. Besides declaring the petitions valid, the court issued several specific directions. The jail authorities must arrange a meeting between Imran and Bushra Bibi as per jail rules. Under the same rules, Imran’s family members should also be allowed to visit him, and authorities should facilitate phone calls between him and his sons.
But the court did attach one condition to the phone calls. The calls can be canceled if these conversations are being recorded and used for political purposes. In addition to communication access, the court directed the jail authorities to provide Imran with books and newspapers daily and to ensure he receives medical care as per applicable prison rules.
The specific order to the superintendent of Adiala jail about Bushra Bibi was that she should not be kept in solitary confinement. 15 days for the superintendent to file a report on compliance of the directions of the court. The IHC disposed of the applications and directed strict compliance with its orders.
Family members file petitions
The original petitions were filed by Imran’s sister Aleema Khan and Bushra Bibi’s daughter, Mubashra Khawar Maneka, against the prolonged isolation of the former premier and his wife.
During earlier hearings, both the government and the Adiala jail authorities denied that either was being held in solitary confinement. The advocate general said Imran was being kept separate due to his political stature and for security reasons and was being provided facilities “more than what is normally provided to B-class prisoners”. Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig told the court that Imran was not kept in one cell all the time, but was allowed to move freely during the day in a compound consisting of seven cells. Officials gave a similar explanation for Bushra Bibi’s housing arrangements, saying it was for security reasons, not solitary confinement.
This was challenged by the petitioners’ counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar. He said his clients’ restrictions were a form of prolonged isolation and mental distress. He also raised concerns about restricted access to lawyers, family members and reading materials and asked the court to order regular meetings and weekly phone calls between Imran and his sons.
A Recent Flashpoint About a Broadcast Interview
The case received renewed attention last week when an interview with Imran’s sons was aired during a Test match between Pakistan and England. After that broadcast, the Ministry of Information released a detailed statement, which was distributed on social media and sent to foreign press agencies. The ministry denied reports that Imran was held in solitary confinement as punishment, or subjected to cruelty or deprivation, stating that he had access to visits, phone calls, reading materials and home-cooked food.
The statement also clarified that Imran is not under executive detention but is serving jail terms based on various convictions after judicial proceedings. It said he is still entitled to avail of all legal remedies available to him under Pakistani law. PTI rejected the ministry’s statement, calling it misleading, fabricated, and incorrect.
