Imran Khan Held in ‘Death Cell’; Sons Warn of Threat to Former PM’s Life Amid Pakistan’s Military-Tilted Governance

Former Pakistani Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has been held in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail since August 2023 under increasingly strict restrictions on communication and visitation. Recently, rumors of his death have drawn global attention.

Speaking to Sky News’ The World with Yalda Hakim, Khan’s sons, Suleman and Qasim Khan, warned that their father’s life is at risk. They claimed that the former prime minister is being subjected to severe psychological torture, held in a so-called “death cell,” and isolated from all human contact. They further expressed concerns that Pakistan is moving towards a military-dominated authoritarianism.

Harsh Conditions in Jail

Qasim and Suleman Khan revealed that they have not been able to speak with their father for months. Qasim described the prison conditions, stating that Khan has been confined to a single cell for over two years, provided with unhygienic water, and surrounded by inmates suffering from hepatitis. “The situation is deteriorating, and we fear that we may never see him again,” Qasim said, calling the treatment a deliberate strategy of psychological torment.

Suleman described the cell as a “death cell,” where Khan spends 23 hours a day in isolation. He added that a military spokesperson recently confirmed that Khan is in complete isolation, facing conditions that violate international law.

Legal Background and Political Tensions

Imran Khan was arrested in August 2023 on charges of illegally selling gifts received during his tenure as Prime Minister and has been sentenced to three years in prison. He faces multiple other cases, all of which he claims are politically motivated.

Qasim Khan emphasized that his father will never negotiate for his own release at the expense of his party members, stating, “He would rather endure these conditions than leave his comrades to suffer.”

Responding to the allegations, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s spokesperson, Musharraf Zaidi, denied claims of solitary confinement. He told Sky News that Khan has been in jail for nearly 860 days and has met with visitors approximately 870 times, while official rules permit weekly visits.

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