The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reinstated the right of former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding leader Imran Khan to receive biweekly visitors at Adiala Jail. However, the court has imposed strict restrictions, barring attendees from making political statements following their meetings.
Court’s Decision on Meetings
In its ruling on Monday, the court allowed Imran Khan to meet his legal team and family members on Tuesdays, while Thursdays were allocated for meetings with friends. However, only individuals approved by his legal coordinator, Salman Akram Raja, will be granted access.
During the proceedings, Acting Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar expressed concerns that prison visits were being exploited for political narratives. He emphasized that visitors should conduct their meetings and leave without engaging in media discussions.
To enforce this, the court mandated that all visitors sign an agreement pledging to refrain from making public statements after their meetings.
Jail Authorities’ Argument Dismissed
Prison officials defended their previous decision to limit visits, citing potential security risks. They had previously consolidated all meetings into a single day rather than allowing two separate sessions per week. However, the court dismissed these security concerns, reaffirming that biweekly visits had already been sanctioned in an earlier ruling.
Imran Khan’s legal representatives contended that despite formal requests, scheduled meetings were frequently canceled. His lawyer, Zaheer Abbas, highlighted that a planned visit on March 20 had not been honored.
In response, Justice Dogar advised the legal team to petition the trial court separately if they sought visitation rights for Imran Khan’s children.
Legal Battles and Jail Restrictions
The verdict arrives as Imran Khan continues to battle legal challenges, having been imprisoned since January following convictions in corruption cases. With his status changing from an under-trial prisoner to a convicted one, his privileges within the prison system have also been revised.
While jail officials continue to argue for restricted visits due to security reasons, the court underscored that political discussions should not take place during or after these interactions.
Imran Khan’s legal representatives assured the court that all visitors would comply with the imposed restrictions. This decision paves the way for his legal team and supporters to meet him twice weekly, though any breach of the court’s directive could invite further legal consequences.
The IHC’s latest ruling grants a minor relief to Imran Khan’s camp while reinforcing the judiciary’s stance against turning prison meetings into platforms for political discourse.
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FAQs
- What decision did the IHC make regarding Imran Khan’s meetings in jail?
The Islamabad High Court reinstated biweekly meetings for Imran Khan but prohibited visitors from making political statements after their meetings. - Who can visit Imran Khan in Adiala Jail?
Only those approved by his legal coordinator, Salman Akram Raja, can visit him. Family and legal teams can meet on Tuesdays, while friends can visit on Thursdays. - Why did the court impose a restriction on political statements?
The court was concerned that meetings were being used for political messaging and ruled that visitors must not discuss political matters publicly after visits. - What was the argument of jail authorities against biweekly meetings?
They cited security concerns and had previously reduced the meetings to one day per week. However, the court rejected this justification and restored the twice-weekly schedule. - What happens if visitors violate the media gag order?
Any breach of the court’s directive could lead to legal repercussions, potentially restricting future visitations further.
