Caged Like “Terrorist” In Jail, Being Denied Basic Human Rights: Imran Khan

Islamabad: 

Pakistan’s jailed former premier Imran Khan has claimed that he is being caged like a “terrorist”, and was denied basic prisoner and human rights in a “death cell” at a high-security jail.

The 71-year-old Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf party founder made these claims in a rare interview from behind bars with British publication ‘The Sunday Times’, the Dawn newspaper reported on Sunday.

“I am confined in a 7ft by 8ft death cell, typically reserved for terrorists to ensure they have no contact with anyone,” he told the newspaper.

It is solitary confinement with barely any space to move. I am under constant surveillance by the agencies, being recorded 24/7, and I am denied basic prisoner and human rights such as visitation,” he said.

The interview was conducted via his lawyers, as – according to the article – he is not allowed a pencil and paper.

Imran Khan has been imprisoned at the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi for almost a year upon his conviction in three cases – the Toshakhana corruption case, the cipher case, and the un-Islamic marriage case — in which his wife, Bushra Bibi, is also jailed.

He faces over 200 cases and has been convicted in a few of them.

Though the former-cricketer-turned-politician had secured bail or his conviction was set aside, he has not been released.