UN special rapporteur says conditions fall far below minimum international standards
Former first lady Bushra Bibi. PHOTO: FILE
A United Nations expert has warned that the condition of Bushra Bibi Khan, the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is in detention, could pose a serious risk to her physical and mental well-being, urging the government to take immediate remedial action.
Bushra Bibi is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in a £190 million corruption case. Separately, a special court last week sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife to 17 years in prison each in the Toshakhana-II case.
“The state has an obligation to protect Ms. Khan’s health and ensure conditions of detention consistent with human dignity,” Alice Jill Edwards, the United Nations special rapporteur on torture, said in a statement released Wednesday.
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According to the rapporteur, Bushra Bibi, detained at Adiala prison, is confined in a small, poorly ventilated cell, described as dirty, overheated and infested with insects and rodents. Frequent power outages would leave the cell in complete darkness, while receiving impure drinking water and food rendered inedible due to excessive use of chili powder.
The release said these conditions led to a weight loss of approximately 15 kilograms, recurrent infections, fainting spells and untreated medical complications, including a dental abscess and a stomach ulcer, which Edwards said came from alleged food contamination during a prior period of detention.
“Such conditions are well below minimum international standards,” Edwards said. “No inmate should be exposed to extreme heat, contaminated food or water, or conditions that aggravate existing health problems. »
She also reminded Pakistan that detention conditions must take into account the age, gender and health status of detainees.
The UN expert further noted reports indicating that Bushra Bibi is frequently subjected to near-total isolation for more than 22 hours a day, sometimes for periods exceeding ten days. During these intervals, she would not have access to exercise, reading, a lawyer, family visits or her personal doctor.
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“Prolonged isolation of this type increases psychological distress and hinders access to essential safeguards,” she added. “Coupled with untreated medical needs, this presents an acute risk. »
“The authorities must ensure that Ms. Khan has the opportunity to communicate with her lawyers, receive visits from family members and have meaningful human contact throughout her detention,” Edwards said.
It is pertinent to note that earlier in April this year, a report on the conditions of Bushra Bibi’s detention was submitted to the Islamabad High Court, stating that she is receiving regular medical monitoring and is being accommodated in a separate and spacious room within the facility.
The report said she underwent medical exams twice a day and was provided with basic furniture, including a mattress, chair, table and bookshelf, as well as adequate lighting, fans and a cooler for the summer. An LCD television has also been made available in the room.
He added that a separate kitchen has been set up to allow him to prepare his own meals, which are examined by the prison doctor before being served.
Earlier this month, Edwards had also expressed serious concerns over what she described as the inhumane detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, urging Pakistan to take immediate and effective action to respond to reports of the 73-year-old’s undignified and degrading detention conditions.
