IHC directive on solitary confinement
The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday directed Adiala Jail authorities to ensure that former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi are not kept in solitary confinement, as reported by Dawn and Times Now. Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro announced the verdict, which had been reserved on August 6, and declared the petitions challenging the alleged solitary confinement maintainable. The court cited the principles laid down in the Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Begum Shamim Afridi cases in its decision, according to Dawn.
The petitions were filed by Khan's sister Aleema Khanum and Bushra Bibi's daughter Mubashra Khawar Maneka, as reported by Times Now.
The court directed jail authorities to facilitate a meeting between Khan and Bushra Bibi in accordance with prison rules and ordered that Khan's family members be allowed to visit him as permitted under jail regulations, Dawn and Times Now reported. Authorities were also instructed to make arrangements for telephone conversations between Khan and his sons, the two outlets said.
The jail authorities were ordered to provide Khan with newspapers and books daily and to ensure he receives medical facilities in line with jail rules, a directive reported by Times Now.
Background on the couple's detention
Imran Khan, 73, has been in prison since August 2023 after being convicted in several cases, Times Now reported. He and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have described those cases as politically motivated, the outlet said. His supporters and relatives have repeatedly alleged restrictions on his access to family members and medical care, while the government has rejected those allegations, according to Times Now.
Bushra Bibi was first jailed on January 31, 2024, following her conviction in a corruption-related case, Times Now reported. She was released on bail on October 24 that year after nearly nine months in prison, but was re-arrested on January 17, 2025, following another corruption conviction, the outlet said. She remains at Adiala Jail.
Supreme Court proceedings on medical care
Separately, Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday rejected a request by Khan's sister Uzma Khan for an early hearing of a contempt petition against government officials over alleged non-compliance with an August 18 order concerning Khan's medical treatment, Times Now reported, citing Dawn News.
The Supreme Court's August 18 order directed the government to shift Khan to the private-run Shifa International Hospital following concerns raised by his family and supporters over his health, including an eye condition diagnosed earlier this year, Times Now reported. However, on the night of August 20-21, Khan was admitted to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a medical procedure and diagnostic examinations instead of Shifa Hospital, the outlet said. Uzma's petition alleged that the decision violated the Supreme Court's order that Khan remain admitted at the Islamabad hospital until September 16, according to Times Now.
The contempt petition is scheduled to be heard on September 16 by a three-member bench, Times Now reported. The Supreme Court rejected the request for an early hearing under its case-fixation policy, noting that 94 other criminal original petitions in the same category were pending before the court, according to the outlet.