US Lawmakers Urge Rubio To Press Pakistan Over Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi’s Jail Conditions
News world US Lawmakers Urge Rubio To Press Pakistan Over Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi’s Jail Conditions US Lawmakers Urge Rubio To Press Pakistan Over Imran
News world US Lawmakers Urge Rubio To Press Pakistan Over Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi’s Jail Conditions US Lawmakers Urge Rubio To Press Pakistan Over Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi’s Jail Conditions Reported By, Last Updated: August 12, 2026, 08:56 IST The appeal details concerns over Imran Khan’s prolonged isolation and severe vision loss, alongside reports of untreated illnesses and poor conditions faced by Bushra Bibi. Rapid Read Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, center, with his wife Bushra Bibi, right, arrive to appear in a court in Lahore, Pakistan, Monday, June 26, 2023. (File pic/PTI) US lawmakers have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to review the detention conditions of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, and raise concerns over their treatment directly with the Pakistani government, according to a congressional letter accessed by CNN-News18. The August 11 letter cites reports and communications from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture over the couple’s conditions at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, including concerns over prolonged solitary confinement, restricted access to family and lawyers, and their health.
The lawmakers have asked the State Department to assess the current condition of both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi and address their continued detention and human rights concerns with Islamabad. Lawmakers Flag Imran Khan’s Health, Solitary Confinement Citing reporting and a December 2025 communication from the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, the lawmakers said Khan had been held in solitary confinement for periods extending up to 23 hours a day, beyond international norms. The letter also refers to reports concerning Khan’s eyesight. It cites a February 2026 court submission by his lawyer stating that he had lost 85 per cent of the vision in his right eye. The lawmakers additionally referred to concerns raised by Khan in October 2023 about possible “slow poisoning" at the beginning of his detention. Concerns Over Bushra Bibi’s Treatment The lawmakers separately raised concerns over the conditions in which Bushra Bibi is being held. Citing another December 2025 communication from the UN Special Rapporteur, the letter says she was reported to have been confined for prolonged periods in a small, airless and overheated cell.
It also cites concerns over her access to clean drinking water and adequate food, as well as restrictions on visits from her family and legal representatives. According to the concerns referenced in the letter, Bushra Bibi has suffered significant weight loss, infections and medical complications that remained untreated. Reports cited by the lawmakers also raised concerns over damage to her eyesight. UN Rapporteur Sought ‘Immediate Attention’ The lawmakers pointed to the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, who had raised concerns over both cases. According to the congressional letter, the Special Rapporteur said the circumstances involving Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi warranted “immediate attention". The lawmakers have now asked the State Department to examine those concerns and determine the present condition of the former Pakistani prime minister and his wife. State Department Asked To Engage Pakistan Beyond seeking a review, the lawmakers have called on Washington to take up the matter directly with Pakistan.
The BriefWire