ISLAMABAD (MNN);The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday declared petitions challenging the alleged solitary confinement of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, maintainable and directed Adiala Jail authorities to ensure that neither of them was kept in solitary confinement.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro announced the reserved verdict and held that the petitions were maintainable in light of legal principles established in the Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Begum Shamim Afridi cases.
The court also directed jail authorities to arrange a meeting between Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in accordance with prison rules.
The IHC further ordered that Imran Khan’s family members be allowed to meet him as permitted under jail regulations. Authorities were also directed to facilitate telephone calls between Imran Khan and his sons.
However, the court ruled that the facility of telephone calls could be withdrawn if recordings of the conversations were used for political purposes.
The jail administration was further directed to provide Imran Khan with newspapers and books on a daily basis and ensure that he receives medical facilities in accordance with prison rules.
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 court ordered strict compliance with its directions and disposed of the petitions.
The petitions had been filed by Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan and Bushra Bibi’s daughter, Mubashra Khawar Maneka, who had challenged the alleged prolonged isolation of the former prime minister and his wife.
During earlier hearings, the government and Adiala Jail authorities denied that either Imran Khan or Bushra Bibi was being held in solitary confinement. Officials maintained that both were being housed separately due to security concerns.
The jail superintendent had informed the court that Imran Khan was not confined to a single cell throughout the day and had access to a compound comprising seven cells, where he could move during daytime hours.
Similarly, authorities had maintained that Bushra Bibi was being housed separately for security reasons and that her accommodation did not amount to solitary confinement.
The petitioners’ counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, had disputed the government’s position, arguing that the restrictions imposed on his clients amounted to prolonged isolation and caused mental distress. He had also raised concerns over limited access to lawyers, family members and reading material.
The development comes amid an ongoing dispute between the government and PTI over the conditions of Imran Khan’s incarceration. While the government has rejected allegations of punitive solitary confinement and stated that he has access to various facilities, PTI has termed the official claims misleading and incorrect.
