Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the authorities at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail to refrain from keeping former PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in solitary confinement, and issued a series of directives to restore their statutory rights under prison rules.
Presiding over the bench, Justice Khadim Hussain Somroo issued the directions while disposing of separate petitions challenging the alleged isolation of the former prime minister and his spouse. The legal actions were brought forward by Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, and Bushra Bibi’s daughter, Mubashira Khawar Maneka.
In the ruling, the court instructed the Superintendent of Adiala jail to ensure that neither inmate is kept in isolation. The judgment explicitly mandated that authorities facilitate regular meetings between Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in accordance with jail regulations.
Furthermore, the court ordered jail management to facilitate routine family visits for Imran Khan and arrange telephone conversations between the former PM and his sons. Addressing potential security and regulatory concerns, the bench noted that telephone rights could be suspended if audio recordings of the conversations were made and subsequently misused for political purposes.
Beyond visitation rights, the High Court directed prison officials to strictly adhere to jail manuals regarding basic living conditions and healthcare. The court ordered that Imran Khan be provided with daily newspapers, books, and access to television, as permitted under the law. The bench also instructed authorities to provide appropriate medical facilities to both prisoners in compliance with applicable prison regulations.
In declaring the petitions maintainable, Justice Khadim Hussain Somroo cited historic legal precedents, referencing past court rulings in the Nusrat Bhutto and Begum Shamim Afridi cases regarding the treatment and rights of political detainees. The IHC directed the Superintendent of Adiala Jail to ensure strict compliance with all issued orders and mandated the submission of an official implementation report within 15 days.
Following the announcement of the verdict outside Adiala Jail, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan welcomed the court’s decision, describing the restoration of statutory visitation rights as a crucial legal development. Imran Khan has remained incarcerated since August 2023 following multiple convictions, which he and his party maintain are politically motivated.
