Imran Khan Denounces 'Inhumane' Prison Conditions for Wife Bushra Bibi in Eid Phone Call
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has issued a strong condemnation of what he describes as the "inhumane treatment" of his wife Bushra Bibi in prison. The statement was relayed through his son Kasim Khan during a rare telephone conversation over the Eid weekend, marking Mr Khan's first public comments since concerns about his severe vision loss emerged among family and supporters.
Judiciary Accused of Complicity in Mistreatment
In the statement conveyed by his son, Mr Khan launched a scathing attack on Pakistan's judiciary, accusing judges of allowing authorities to mistreat his third wife as a means of blackmail. "The judges in this country should be ashamed of themselves," Mr Khan declared. "Time and again we have gone to the judiciary but they have sold their souls for personal gain. They have sold their integrity."
Mr Khan expressed particular outrage at the treatment of Ms Bibi, questioning how the judiciary could permit such conditions. "They know they cannot break me, so they turn to my wife. How can they allow this inhumane treatment of Bushra Bibi, simply to blackmail me?" he stated.
Complete Isolation Alleged for Bushra Bibi
The former prime minister provided specific details about his wife's prison conditions, alleging she is being kept in complete isolation with minimal contact. According to Mr Khan, Ms Bibi is allowed only thirty minutes of visitation time with him per week, and even this limited access is frequently denied by prison authorities.
Bushra Bibi has been detained at Adiala Jail since January, when she was named in multiple corruption cases alongside her husband. The couple has already received substantial prison sentences in separate corruption cases:
- Fourteen years for Mr Khan and seven years for Ms Bibi in a property trust corruption case
- Seventeen years each in December 2024 for another corruption case involving luxury state gifts
Mr Khan and his political party have consistently denounced these cases as politically motivated attempts to silence the opposition.
Growing Health Concerns for Imran Khan
The former cricketer-turned-politician's health has become a growing concern for his supporters and family members. Mr Khan underwent a third round of eye treatment on Monday at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital, where he received an anti-VEGF intravitreal injection for vision loss in his right eye.
Medical sources indicate this completed a three-dose treatment regimen, with an assessment scheduled in four weeks to determine if further intervention is necessary. In January, Mr Khan's lawyer revealed the former prime minister had lost approximately eighty-five percent of vision in his right eye and required urgent specialist treatment.
Allegations of Medical Neglect and Secrecy
Mr Khan's family has repeatedly accused prison authorities of denying proper medical care, claiming his condition has deteriorated due to institutional inaction. These concerns were amplified on Monday when party officials alleged they were not informed about the hospital visit.
Zulfi Bukhari, a spokesperson for Mr Khan's party, expressed outrage at the handling of the situation. "No one was informed, not the political leadership nor his family about the hospital visit on Monday. It's just an absolute disgrace how they are handling the situation. It has raised some very serious concerns," Mr Bukhari stated.
Imran Khan was initially imprisoned in August 2023, slightly more than a year after being removed from office through a parliamentary motion. The former prime minister has consistently maintained that Pakistan's powerful military orchestrated his removal at the behest of the United States government.
