Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been in custody since August 5, 2023, when he was arrested after his conviction in the Toshakhana case. He is now 73 and remains incarcerated at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. August 5, 2026 marked three years since his imprisonment. T The Print +1 Khan is currently serving a 14-year sentence in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, in which his wife Bushra Bibi received a seven-year sentence. The couple was also sentenced to 17 years each in December 2025 in the Toshakhana-II state-gifts case. Legal challenges to the convictions remain part of the ongoing judicial process. A Amnesty International +1 Earlier cases against Khan have seen significant legal developments. His conviction in the state-secrets/cypher case was overturned, while the conviction related to his marriage to Bushra Bibi was also set aside. His earlier Toshakhana sentence was suspended. Khan continues to face other legal cases, while his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party remains involved in a broader political and legal confrontation with the government. Dispute Over Prison Conditions and Medical Treatment Khan's family, PTI and international rights organisations have raised concerns about his prison conditions, including alleged prolonged isolation and restrictions on family access. Amnesty International has also criticised his detention and raised concerns about his treatment. A Amnesty International His sons have publicly expressed concern about his health and alleged that his condition could deteriorate further without adequate treatment. These claims have been disputed by the Pakistani government, which says Khan is receiving appropriate medical care and is being treated as a convicted prisoner under established prison procedures. The dispute intensified in August after the Supreme Court ordered that Khan receive medical examination and treatment at a private hospital. Authorities instead took him to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for examination before returning him to Adiala Jail. PTI subsequently sought contempt proceedings, alleging that the court's order had not been properly followed. R Reuters +1 The government has maintained that Khan was medically examined and declared fit, while his family, party and supporters have questioned the adequacy and circumstances of the examination. The competing claims remain part of an ongoing legal and political dispute. A AP News +1 What Led to Khan’s Political Fall? Khan's political decline cannot be attributed to a single case or event. His relationship with Pakistan's powerful military establishment deteriorated significantly during his time in office and became openly confrontational after his removal from power. Khan became prime minister in 2018 after an election in which the military's political influence was widely alleged by observers and analysts. Several studies and contemporary analyses have described the period as one of "hybrid" civilian-military rule, although the extent and nature of military involvement in Khan's electoral victory remain politically contested. J Journal of Democracy +2 Relations between Khan's government and the military leadership later deteriorated over issues including appointments within the security establishment and differences over policy and political authority. Analysts have identified the dispute over the appointment of the ISI chief in 2021 as one of the important turning points. F Foreign Policy Khan's visit to Moscow in February 2022, coinciding with the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, further complicated his relationship with Western governments and Pakistan's foreign-policy establishment. The Cypher Controversy The diplomatic cypher became a major element of Khan's political campaign after his removal from office in April 2022. Khan argued that the diplomatic communication demonstrated foreign interference in Pakistan's politics. The document referred to remarks by US diplomat Donald Lu regarding the political situation in Pakistan. The United States rejected Khan's interpretation of the communication. Khan was subsequently convicted in the state-secrets case, but that conviction was later overturned. The controversy nevertheless became an important part of Khan's political narrative and his confrontation with the political and military establishment. May 9, 2023: A Major Turning Point Khan's arrest on May 9, 2023 triggered widespread protests by PTI supporters. Military installations and other state properties were attacked during the unrest. For Pakistan's military establishment, the events represented a major escalation in the confrontation with PTI. The subsequent crackdown resulted in arrests of party leaders and supporters, while restrictions were imposed on PTI's political and media activities. Amnesty International and other rights organisations have raised concerns about some of these measures. A Amnesty International +1 Khan was arrested again on August 5, 2023 and has remained in detention since then. T The Print The Legal Cases Against Khan Al-Qadir Trust Case The Al-Qadir Trust case centres on the handling of funds connected to a settlement involving the UK National Crime Agency and property tycoon Malik Riaz's family. The prosecution argued that funds equivalent to £190 million were handled in a manner that benefited interests linked to Khan and Bushra Bibi. The defence has challenged the allegations and the conviction. An accountability court convicted Khan and Bushra Bibi in the case, with Khan receiving 14 years and Bushra Bibi seven years. Khan's appeals and applications concerning the sentence remain part of the judicial process. D Dawn ePaper +1 Toshakhana Cases The Toshakhana cases concern state gifts received by Pakistani public officials. Khan was initially convicted over the handling and disclosure of state gifts. That sentence was later suspended. In December 2025, he and Bushra Bibi received additional 17-year sentences in the Toshakhana-II case concerning state gifts. A Akashvani News +1 Khan's supporters argue that he has been selectively prosecuted, pointing to the fact that questions surrounding Toshakhana have involved several Pakistani political leaders over the years. The prosecution and government maintain that the cases concern specific legal violations and should be decided through the courts. State Secrets Case The cypher case involved allegations that Khan improperly handled and disclosed a classified diplomatic document. Although the case raised genuine questions concerning the handling of classified material, Khan's conviction was later overturned. This remains one of the cases frequently cited by PTI supporters as evidence of political prosecution. Why Is His Release Politically Difficult? Pakistan's current political structure is led by a civilian government headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while the military continues to exercise substantial influence over national security and political affairs. Khan remains an important political figure and retains significant support among sections of the Pakistani electorate, particularly among PTI supporters and younger voters. His party was prevented from contesting the 2024 general election under its traditional electoral symbol, although PTI-backed independent candidates won a substantial number of seats. F Foreign Policy +1 A release or major political accommodation involving Khan could therefore have significant consequences for Pakistan's political balance. Analysts have also noted that the confrontation between Khan and the military establishment has made reconciliation difficult. Khan has continued to challenge the establishment, while the military and government have rejected the idea of a political settlement outside the legal process. A Al Jazeera A Political Crisis Beyond the Courtroom The central issue in Khan's case is therefore larger than any single conviction. His supporters view the prosecutions, restrictions on PTI and his imprisonment as part of a political campaign to prevent him from returning to power. The government rejects that interpretation and says Khan is facing legal consequences through the judicial system. At the same time, analysts have long described Pakistan's political system as one in which civilian governments and the military establishment have repeatedly competed over political authority. Khan's rise and subsequent confrontation with the military fit into that broader history. J Journal of Democracy +1 The current dispute therefore involves three overlapping questions: the legal validity of Khan's convictions, the conditions under which he is being detained, and the continuing struggle over the role of the military in Pakistan's politics. Until the remaining appeals and legal proceedings are resolved, definitive conclusions about Khan's ultimate political and legal fate remain premature.