Islamabad High Court directs Adiala Jail authorities to end alleged solitary confinement and ensure family meetings, phone access and medical care.
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has directed Adiala Jail authorities not to keep Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in solitary confinement.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued the directions while disposing of petitions challenging the alleged isolation of the two prisoners.
The petitions were filed by Aleema Khan on behalf of Imran Khan and Musharrafa Khawar Maneka on behalf of Bushra Bibi.
The court directed the Adiala Jail superintendent to ensure that neither Imran Khan nor Bushra Bibi is kept in solitary confinement. Authorities were also instructed to facilitate a meeting between the two.
Under the ruling, Imran Khan is to be allowed meetings with his family in accordance with applicable jail rules. The court further directed authorities to provide him with an opportunity to speak with his sons by telephone.
The IHC also ordered the jail authorities to provide Imran Khan with newspapers and books on a daily basis.
The ruling said audio recordings of Imran Khan could be made available subject to safeguards. The facility may be withdrawn if the recordings are misused, according to the court’s directions.
The court also directed prison authorities to ensure that Imran Khan receives medical facilities in accordance with prison rules.
While declaring the petitions maintainable, the IHC referred to precedents established in the Nusrat Bhutto case and the Begum Shamim Afridi case.
The Adiala Jail superintendent was directed to ensure compliance with the court’s orders and submit an implementation report within 15 days.
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