Amnesty International released a statement Tuesday calling for Pakistan to restore the legal rights of detained former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi Khan, urging authorities to end their prolonged isolation and guarantee them a fair and transparent trial in accordance with recognized international human rights standards.

Amnesty International’s acting regional director for South Asia, Isabelle Lassee, spoke to the severity of the deprivation of the Khans’ rights:

For three years, Pakistan’s authorities have systematically denied Imran Khan the right to a fair trial, subjected him to prolonged solitary confinement, and limited his access to medical care and visitation rights. He has not been allowed to meet his family for more than eight months and his vision has reportedly deteriorated significantly. Both he and his wife, Bushra Bibi Khan, have now been denied regular access to legal counsel since December 2025.

The organization insists on the need for authorities to “unconditionally restore” these rights. The rights leaders also stress that the Khans’ solitary confinement is unlawful and should be ended “immediately.”

Amidst these concerns, supporters of his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), held massive demonstrations calling for his release. These protests face “heavy security,” and there have been reports of alleged use of tear gas, batons, and detentions.

The rights group highlighted the critical need to protect freedom of assembly, asserting that Pakistani officials must actively support peaceful demonstrations organized by Imran Khan’s relatives, political allies, and backers to commemorate the anniversary. Further emphasis was placed on law enforcement breaking the cycle of unjust and illicit crackdowns that have routinely targeted demonstrators and members of Imran Khan’s political party.

All ongoing concerns have been corroborated with evidence from other organizations, underscoring the urgency of the situation affecting both Khan and his wife. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded in 2024 that Khan’s detention violates international human rights law. The UN Special Rapporteur on torture raised concerns in 2025 that Imran’s and Bushra Bibi’s detention conditions could amount to torture. Human Rights Watch has reported on the crackdown on political dissent surrounding PTI protests.

The Pakistani government has rejected any accusations of arbitrary detention or mistreatment, insisting that the detention has been subject to “continuous judicial oversight.” In dismissing the validity of investigations by rights groups, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior, Tallal Chaudhry, countered that the assessments of global bodies cannot supersede the legal authority of the nation’s sovereign courts or the rulings of its official institutions.

Khan was ousted from his political office in 2022 after losing a vote of confidence in parliament. Since his removal from office, he has faced more than 150 legal cases, which include charges of corruption, terrorism, and inciting protestor violence. He was first arrested in May 2023 on corruption charges, with a subsequent arrest in August and is currently awaiting sentencing. Khan was accused of illegally receiving land from a real estate developer in exchange for illegal favours, leading to a 14 year sentence. Bushra Bibi was sentenced to seven years.

The couple were later sentenced to an additional 17 years for retaining and selling state gifts. At this point, it is unclear whether there will be any developments in the Khans’ cases. The government has rejected the possibility of negotiating any kind of settlement.