The ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has claimed that he is being caged like a “terrorist”. The former-cricketer-turned-politician said that he was not given basic prisoner and human rights in a “death cell” at a high-security prison.
Khan (71) made these claims in a rare interview from inside the prison with British publication ‘The Sunday Times’, reported the Dawn newspaper on Sunday.
“I am confined in a 7ft by 8ft death cell, typically reserved for terrorists to ensure they have no contact with anyone,” he told the newspaper.
With barely any space to move, it is solitary confinement, said the Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party founder. Khan added that he was under constant surveillance by the agencies.
“Being recorded 24/7, and I am denied basic prisoner and human rights such as visitation,” he further said.
For almost a year, Khan has been imprisoned at the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi upon his conviction in three cases — the Toshakhana corruption case, the cipher case, and the un-Islamic marriage case — in which his wife, Bushra Bibi, is also imprisoned.
Ex-PM faces more than 200 cases and has been convicted in a few of them. Though Khan had secured bail or his conviction was set aside, he has not been released by the authorities.
(With inputs from agencies)