The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday directed Adiala Jail authorities to restore two visiting days weekly for convicted former Prime Minister Imran Khan, allowing him to meet people every Tuesday and Thursday.
In its verbal order, the three-member larger bench said Tuesdays would be reserved for meetings between Khan and his family and lawyers, while he would be able to meet “friends” every Thursday. It said only those individuals designated to meet the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder by coordinator Salman Akram Raja would be eligible for the meeting. The court further said that the visitors would not be permitted to conduct media talks upon their exit from the Adiala Jail.
IHC Acting Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justices Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Mohammad Azam Khan issued the order on merged petitions regarding Khan’s visitation rights. Speaking with media after the hearing, Raja said there was no issue with agreeing to not indulge in media talks after the meeting, adding Khan’s message would be conveyed to the public through alternate means.
Earlier, the PTI had sought the restoration of two weekly meetings with Khan after Adiala jail Superintendent Anjum, using his discretionary powers, had limited the former premier’s meetings to just once a week on Tuesdays.
In today’s proceedings, the jail superintendent’s lawyer Naveed Malik informed the court that Khan was permitted two meetings weekly until December 2024 when the former prime minister’s status changed from an under-trial prisoner to a convict. He said the jail also had security threats so it was “easier” to restrict Khan’s meetings to once a week.
He argued that people used the meetings for political purposes, prompting the acting chief justice to question the need for talks. “We should obtain an undertaking from visitors to ensure they do not hold media talks after the meetings,” he remarked.
On a petition regarding communication between Khan and his children, who reside in the United Kingdom, Justice Dogar observed they should apply for the same before the trial court.