Imran Khan Solitary Confinement Verdict Reserved by Islamabad High Court

Islamabad  – The Islamabad High Court has reserved its decision in the closely watched Imran Khan solitary confinement verdict case. The ruling will address whether the former prime minister and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been held under unlawful isolation inside Adiala Jail.

Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro heard the matter on Thursday. He announced that a written order would follow at a later date, after both sides presented their full arguments.

During the session, the jail superintendent and the Islamabad Advocate General appeared in court. They submitted a compliance report as directed by the court’s earlier order dated June 30.

The Advocate General told the bench that no court or authority had ever ordered solitary confinement for either Imran Khan or his wife. He said the couple was receiving added comforts inside the facility.

According to him, Khan is locked in his cell only for a limited period at night, purely as a safety measure. He argued this arrangement does not legally qualify as solitary confinement.

The law officer also pointed out that the Supreme Court had previously reviewed the conditions provided to Khan and found them satisfactory. He added that these facilities go beyond what is normally given to inmates under B-Class status.

The jail superintendent backed this position. He informed the court that a convicted orderly stays with Khan throughout the day, meaning he is never left entirely alone.

Solitary confinement, he explained, is legally defined as complete isolation for a full 24-hour period. He said this standard clearly does not match Khan’s current situation in custody.

Discussion in court briefly shifted toward Khan’s health, particularly concerns about his eye treatment. The Advocate General argued this issue falls outside what the current petitions are meant to cover.

Justice Soomro disagreed slightly with this framing. He remarked that it would have strengthened the case had the medical board’s report also been formally placed before the court.

The judge asked both legal teams to submit any supporting case law in writing, if they wanted the court to weigh it before finalizing the decision. He also suggested that a jointly agreed SOP between the parties might have avoided this dispute altogether.

Responding to the health-related concerns, the jail superintendent said Khan’s eye issue had already been addressed. He noted that a report from the PIMS executive director had already been shared publicly.

Following the full hearing, the court formally reserved judgment. A detailed written order is expected in due course.

The original petitions were filed by two family members. Aleema Khan filed on behalf of her brother, while Mubashra Maneka, Bushra Bibi’s daughter, filed on her mother’s behalf.

Both petitioners had claimed that Khan and his wife were being kept in illegal solitary confinement. They also alleged restricted access to family members and legal counsel throughout the detention period.

The court’s upcoming written order is expected to clarify the legal status of their confinement conditions once and for all.