Arbitrary Detention

The Arbitrary Detention of Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Human Rights Activist Mahrang Baloch

Since April 2022, Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in arbitrary detentions targeting political opponents, journalists, and activists. The most high-profile case is that of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was arrested on August 5, 2023. His detention has drawn global attention as a symbol of the government's broader crackdown on dissent.

Also affected is Mahrang Baloch, a prominent Baloch human rights activist and leader of the Baloch Yakjehti (Solidarity) Committee, a grassroots human rights organisation. She was arrested on March 22, 2025, during a peaceful protest in Quetta. Despite international condemnation, including calls for her release by UN experts and human rights organisations, she remains imprisoned without formal charges, highlighting the ongoing suppression of peaceful activism in Pakistan.

Imran Khan and Mahrang Baloch are both reportedly nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize 2025.

VIDEO: Footage of Imran Khan’s arrest - Credit: The Guardian

Baloch rights activist Mahrang Baloch, who is currently arbitrarily detained.

Wife of former Pakistani Prime Minister Bushra Bibi, who is currently arbitrarily detained.

UN and Amnesty Call for the Release of Imran Khan

In June 2024, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared Khan’s imprisonment unlawful, stating that it lacked legal basis and appeared to be politically motivated to block his participation in the 2024 general elections. The UN called for his immediate release and compensation.

Amnesty International echoed these findings, citing serious violations of fair trial standards and the deliberate misuse of the legal system to suppress opposition voices.

Targeting Family, Journalists and Social Media Activists

This repression extends beyond Imran Khan. His family members including his wife Bushra Bibi, senior leaders and supporters of his party—Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)—as well as independent journalists and social media activists, have been detained without due process. These actions have created a climate of fear, silenced dissent, and seriously undermined democratic freedoms and civic space in Pakistan.

PHOTO: Activists of Tehreek-e-Insaf Women Wing are holding protest demonstration for release of Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, on April 26, 2024 in Peshawar.

Violation of International Conventions

Detainees, including Khan, are being held in inhumane and internationally documented conditions. Reports confirm the use of solitary confinement, electricity blackouts, and denial of healthcare as methods of coercion and psychological pressure. These practices are in clear violation of multiple international human rights conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).