ISLAMABAD: In a detailed account of his recent incarceration at Adiala Jail, prominent Islamic scholar Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza has challenged the polarised narratives surrounding former prime minister Imran Khan’s jail conditions, providing a first-hand witness perspective from an adjacent cell.
Speaking to senior anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada in Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzab Khanzada Kay Sath’ on Friday night, Mirza, who was recently released, stated that claims of the the government as well as the PTI about Imran Khan’s jail conditions are factually incorrect and extreme positions.
The scholar revealed that at first he was unaware he would be placed in a facility directly beside Imran Khan’s enclosure. He described that the PTI founder has been allotted six cells, each measuring 10/12 feet. According to Mirza, one cell is used by Khan’s orderly (mushaqati), another is his living quarter, and the remaining cells are used for storage, provided to give him additional space.
Mirza recounted an incident, saying: “One day, while I was walking, I heard Imran Khan’s voice, so I asked if it was Imran Khan’s voice. The inmates with me confirmed it was. The bishop present there told me that ‘I used to have a cough, and Imran Khan complained that he couldn’t sleep at night, so I was shifted’.
Mirza described a routine where the former prime minister would come for breakfast at 9am and engage in conversations, primarily about cricket, with his orderly.
“People are twisting narratives,” Mirza said, noting he would only disclose what the public could fairly bear. Rejecting the claims that he was deliberately put in the jail, he said: “People are even saying that 295-C was intentionally imposed on me and that I was placed there deliberately. However, I was not given any briefing, nor has any ‘big brother’ met me. They know my temperament—that I don’t work for anyone. In fact, these people have been working for the establishment themselves, so they think this might be something similar.”
He described the afternoon routine, noting the distinct smell of ‘desi ghee’ as Khan’s orderly cooked lunch around 3pm, a scent Mirza recognised as a consumer himself. He confirmed having access to television and newspapers during his detention.
Addressing the period of the “tweets case,” Mirza stated Imran Khan was “truly angry” and would speak in a continuously loud voice. While he overheard many conversations, including on cricket, Mirza refused to divulge details, fearing it would “create difficulties for Imran Khan” and lead to the PTI accusing him of parroting others’ claims.
“Imran Khan is extremely frustrated inside,” Mirza asserted, adding that he would have likely reached a similar state of frustration sooner had he endured two years. He praised Imran Khan’s resilience and urged the public to pray for him, revealing he had done so himself while imprisoned.
The scholar directly countered the widespread narrative of Imran Khan’s isolation. “When I went inside, I realised they were lying when they claimed he was kept isolated. It is a well-known place.” He declined to specify the exact location for security reasons, noting many prominent figures had previously occupied those same cells.
Mirza confirmed that Imran Khan receives basic facilities, including nuts, juices and access to news via an LED screen in his room, amenities he clarified are not exclusive but available throughout Adiala Jail. A student of Mirza’s on duty there corroborated the receipt of two newspapers and the regular medical check-ups for high-profile inmates, a process Mirza also underwent.
“Jail is still jail,” Mirza concluded, emphasising it is particularly challenging for an extroverted personality like Imran Khan.
In a broader commentary on the justice system, Mirza shared a poignant account of a Christian man imprisoned for thirteen-and-a-half years on blasphemy charges, who told him the sentencing judge later apologised, citing public pressure. The man was released on October 2, 2025, and died on October 5. Mirza also mentioned a blind, mentally unstable individual incarcerated on similar charges and noted the recent high court releases of Zafar Bhatti and Aniqa Ateeq.
He praised the humane conduct of jail police, who he said share in prisoners’ grief and joy. Based on his case studies, Mirza referenced a National Commission for Human Rights report alleging the use of “honey traps” to ensnare individuals, placing blame on those who instigate blasphemy rather than the accused.
“If such allegations can be made against me, they can be made against anyone,” he warned.
Mirza saluted the judiciary for its courage, specifically naming judges Sardar Ijaz Ishaq, Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Nuzhat Ali Khan and Waheed Khan, and noted that approximately 47 bails have been granted in related cases.
He concluded with a stark warning, referencing a past statement about the formation of a “hard state” to deal firmly with challengers to the government’s writ. “That process has begun,” Mirza stated, “and an example has been set with my case as a foundation.”
