Islamabad, Sept 2:
The Islamabad High Court has directed authorities at Adiala Jail not to keep former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in solitary confinement, providing relief to the jailed couple amid a continuing dispute over their prison conditions.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro declared petitions challenging the alleged solitary confinement of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder and his wife maintainable and directed the jail authorities to ensure that neither was kept in isolation. The court also ordered steps to facilitate family meetings and communication with Imran’s sons.
The court directed the jail authorities to facilitate a meeting between Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in accordance with prison rules. It also ordered that Imran’s family members be allowed to meet him as permitted under the rules and that arrangements be made for telephone conversations between him and his sons.
However, the court said telephone calls could be withdrawn if recordings of the conversations were being used for political purposes. It further directed jail authorities to provide Imran with newspapers and books every day and ensure that he receives medical facilities in accordance with applicable prison regulations.
The superintendent of Adiala Jail was specifically instructed to ensure that Bushra Bibi was not kept in solitary confinement and submit an implementation report to the court within 15 days. The petitions had been filed by Imran’s sister Aleema Khan and Bushra Bibi’s daughter Mubashra Khawar Maneka, who challenged the alleged prolonged isolation of the two prisoners.
The government and jail authorities had previously denied that either Imran or Bushra was being subjected to solitary confinement. Officials said Imran was housed separately because of security concerns linked to his political profile and maintained that he had access to facilities beyond those normally available to B-class prisoners.
The Adiala Jail superintendent had told the court that Imran was not confined to a single cell throughout the day and could move within a compound comprising seven cells. Authorities similarly maintained that Bushra Bibi was being housed separately for security reasons rather than as punishment.
The petitioners’ lawyer disputed that explanation, alleging that the restrictions amounted to prolonged isolation and caused mental distress. He also complained of limited access to lawyers, family members and reading material and sought regular meetings and telephone contact between Imran and his sons.
The latest order represents a judicial intervention in the continuing dispute over the treatment of the former prime minister and his wife, who remain incarcerated following convictions in cases brought against them.