Adiala Jail: Inside Pakistan's Notorious Prison Where Imran Khan Remains Detained Under Harsh Conditions

A Pakistani policeman secures the main entrance of Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi (AFP)

Government authorities have refuted rumors concerning the alleged death of Pakistan's former prime minister while in detention. This incident has once again directed national focus toward Central Jail Rawalpindi, commonly referred to as Adiala Jail, a facility notorious for housing Pakistan's most dangerous and high-profile detainees.

Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 after being found guilty in multiple corruption cases. The detention center where he is held is infamous for confining various individuals including extremists, terrorists, crime syndicate leaders, foreign prisoners, death row inmates, and Pakistan's most notable political figures.

Adiala Jail holds significant historical importance in Pakistan's political landscape. In April 1979, former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was executed within its walls. Following this event, General Zia-ul-Haq modernized the facility by adding recreational areas, rehabilitation programs, and educational initiatives.

According to statistics from the Punjab Prisons Department, while Adiala was constructed to accommodate only 1,900 inmates, it currently houses approximately 6,000 people, including women. The Dawn newspaper has drawn comparisons between this jail and Delhi's Tihar, noting that both facilities share similar notoriety and have experienced significant security breaches over time.

Severe overcrowding has forced thousands of prisoners into poorly ventilated, dimly lit cells where they face threats of disease, malnutrition, and potential death. Despite prison regulations requiring meals containing meat, rice, and dessert, the actual conditions differ substantially.

Food quality frequently falls below standards due to problematic supply contracts.

One prisoner revealed to Dawn, "The meat smells like diesel instead of cooking oil. Drinking water comes from bore wells, making inmates vulnerable to numerous illnesses."

Following requests from prison administrators, local authorities suspended mobile services within a five-kilometer radius, extending to the nearby village of Gorakhpur. Surrounding settlements undergo routine searches for potential suspects.

Adiala's reputation previously attracted international attention when Prince Charles visited while Mirza Tahir, a British citizen on death row, awaited execution. His sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment by then-president Pervez Musharraf, after which he returned to his home country.

Regarding rumors of Imran Khan's death, his sisters—Noreen Niazi, Aleema Khan, and Dr. Uzma Khan—previously claimed they had been unable to meet him for over three weeks and were "brutally" attacked outside the facility during an attempted visit.

For two days, Khan dominated online discussions after an Afghan news outlet claimed the former PM had died in custody. The Afghanistan Times alleged the 72-year-old leader "succumbed to alleged mistreatment" and that his body had been removed from the prison.

Jail officials contradicted this report, stating, "There is no truth to reports about his transfer from Adiala jail. He is fully healthy and receiving complete medical attention."

Government representatives also denied these claims, and Khan's sister Aleema Khan, along with PTI supporters, ended their protest once authorities assured them that visitation would be arranged.

Since his arrest, Khan's children, Qasim and Suleman, who live in London, have consistently expressed concern about his conditions. Speaking to The Independent, Qasim stated, "The conditions my father is kept in are extremely harsh. He is confined to what is effectively a death cell, with poor hygiene and no proper facilities. For almost a year now, he has not been allowed to see his personal doctor."

In October, PTI leaders alleged that the former PM had been placed in "solitary confinement," adding that, "Unlike other prisoners, Imran Khan's cell door remains closed at all times, depriving him of human contact."

The party further alleged his electricity supply had been disconnected, newspapers withheld, and television service suspended for seven months. Khan has reportedly also been prevented from communicating with his children.

According to the PTI, "All these actions violate both the law and prison regulations."