Muhammad Javed, Daily Dawn, Dawn TV Report
New York: A UN special rapporteur has said that the conditions in which Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, is being held in prison could pose a serious threat to her physical and mental health and urged the authorities to take immediate steps in this regard.
The UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, said that the state has a responsibility to ensure the protection of Bushra Bibi’s health and human dignity during detention.
A statement issued by the UN said that, according to reports, Bushra Bibi, who is imprisoned in Adiala Jail, is allegedly being kept in a small cell where there is no ventilation.
According to the statement, there are reports that Bushra Bibi’s cell is not only dirty and extremely hot, but there are also insects and rats, while in the event of a power outage, the cell is completely plunged into darkness.
The statement claims that she is given dirty water to drink, while the food is inedible due to the excessive use of chili in her food.
The statement further said that according to reports, due to all these conditions, not only did Bushra Bibi lose about 15 kg in weight, but it is also causing her to suffer from repeated infections and fainting spells.
Jill Edwards says that the conditions in which Bushra Bibi is being kept are far below international standards. “No prisoner should be kept in extreme heat, contaminated food or water, or in conditions that aggravate their existing medical conditions.”
She says that Pakistan should take into account the age, gender, and health of the prisoner while determining the conditions and location of detention.
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