US Lawmakers Urge Rubio to Press Pakistan on Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi Detention
US lawmakers have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to examine the detention conditions of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, and raise the issue directly with the Pakistani government.
An August 11 congressional letter cited reports and communications from the UN Special Rapporteur on torture concerning the couple’s treatment at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. The lawmakers highlighted alleged prolonged solitary confinement, restrictions on access to family and lawyers, and concerns about their health.
The letter calls on the US State Department to assess the pair’s current condition and address their continued detention and related human rights concerns with Islamabad.
Imran Khan’s Health and Solitary Confinement Raised
The lawmakers cited a December 2025 communication from the UN Special Rapporteur, along with other reports, regarding Khan’s detention. According to the letter, Khan has reportedly been held in solitary confinement for periods of up to 23 hours a day.
Lawmakers also raised concerns about his eyesight, citing a February 2026 court submission by his lawyer that claimed Khan had lost 85 per cent of the vision in his right eye.
The letter also mentions concerns Khan raised in October 2023 about an alleged possibility of “slow poisoning” during his detention.
Concerns Over Bushra Bibi’s Jail Conditions
The lawmakers also highlighted reports about Bushra Bibi’s conditions at Adiala Jail.
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Citing a separate December 2025 communication from the UN Special Rapporteur, the letter said she was reportedly confined for prolonged periods in a small, airless and overheated cell.
It also pointed to alleged restrictions on access to clean drinking water, adequate food, family members and legal representatives.
The letter cited reports of significant weight loss, infections and other medical complications that were allegedly left untreated. Concerns about damage to her eyesight were also referenced.
UN Expert’s Concerns Cited by Lawmakers
The lawmakers pointed to previous concerns raised by the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. According to the congressional letter, the Special Rapporteur said the circumstances surrounding Khan and Bushra Bibi required “immediate attention.”
Lawmakers are now asking the State Department to verify the current conditions of both detainees and examine the concerns raised in the UN communications.
Rubio Asked to Raise Issue With Pakistan
Beyond seeking an assessment, the lawmakers want the State Department to engage directly with Islamabad.
They urged the department to address the couple’s continued detention and reported human rights concerns with the Government of Pakistan, putting the treatment of Khan and Bushra Bibi on the agenda of US-Pakistan diplomatic discussions.
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