Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have received limited relief after the Islamabad High Court directed authorities at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail not to keep them in solitary confinement.

Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro ordered jail officials to allow Khan’s family members to meet him according to prison rules and facilitate telephone conversations with his sons. Authorities were also instructed to provide him with newspapers and books daily and ensure access to medical care as required under jail regulations.

The court directed the jail superintendent to implement the orders and submit a compliance report within 15 days. The ruling followed petitions filed by Khan’s sister Aleema Khanum and Bushra Bibi’s daughter, Mubashra Khawar Maneka, challenging their alleged solitary confinement.

Khan, 73, and Bushra Bibi have remained in custody since August 2023 and are serving sentences in corruption-related cases. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has repeatedly alleged that the cases are politically motivated, while the government has denied claims of mistreatment.

Khan’s detention and medical treatment remain before the Supreme Court. The court had previously ordered his transfer to Shifa International Hospital amid concerns over his health, but he was instead taken to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for examinations and an eye procedure before returning to Adiala Jail.

A contempt petition filed by Khan’s sister over the alleged violation of the hospital-transfer order is scheduled for a September 16 hearing. The Supreme Court is also expected to consider matters concerning Khan’s health and family meetings.