The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has accused Islamabad's federal government of denying adequate medical care and family access to jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, according to local media reports on Saturday, 6 June. The allegations were made at a press conference in Peshawar, with PTI leaders arguing that the restrictions amount to a violation of fundamental rights.

Key Allegations at the Peshawar Press Conference

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information and Public Relations Minister Shafi Jan alleged that both Khan and Bushra Bibi were being denied access to personal physicians and adequate healthcare, despite documented concerns about their health. Jan specifically stated that Khan had been battling an eye ailment for four months and that his vision had not fully recovered.

The minister further alleged that both individuals were taken to a hospital at night for treatment in a manner that reportedly breached jail regulations. While the party was informed that the treatment lasted three hours, no verified medical details were shared, according to the Pakistani daily Dawn.

Demands and Court Order Concerns

Jan called on authorities to allow Khan and Bushra Bibi access to their personal doctors and to facilitate their transfer to Shifa International Hospital for comprehensive treatment. He also alleged that ongoing curbs on meetings with Khan were in violation of existing court orders, and could constitute contempt of court.

Raising concerns over alleged unequal treatment, Jan claimed that former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had access to extensive facilities and visitors during his own incarceration — privileges that, he argued, were being denied to Khan.

Solitary Confinement Petition

Last month, Khan's sister, Aleema Khan, approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against her brother's alleged solitary confinement. The petition, as reported by Geo News, contended that keeping Khan in solitary confinement is unlawful and unsupported by any judicial order.

Background: Imran Khan's Imprisonment

Imran Khan has been in prison since August 2023, following a series of convictions that PTI has consistently termed politically motivated. Since his removal from office in 2022 through a no-confidence vote, he has faced multiple legal cases, including allegations involving state gifts and an unlawful marriage case.

In January 2025, both Khan and Bushra Bibi were convicted in the £190 million Al-Qadir University Project Trust case. Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Bushra Bibi received a seven-year jail term. The PTI has challenged these convictions as politically driven, a charge the federal government has denied.

As legal proceedings continue and health concerns mount, the standoff between PTI and the federal government over Khan's detention conditions is likely to intensify in the weeks ahead.