Islamabad High Court Issues Major Verdict in Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi Solitary Confinement Case
Court declares both petitions maintainable, directs jail authorities to ensure newspapers, books, meetings and medical facilities
Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has announced its verdict on petitions concerning the alleged solitary confinement of PTI founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in jail, declaring both petitions maintainable and issuing several directions to prison authorities.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro announced the reserved judgment. The court referred to the Nusrat Bhutto case and the Begum Shamim Afridi judgment while declaring the petitions maintainable.
The court directed that Imran Khan be provided with newspapers and books daily and that medical facilities be made available to him in accordance with jail rules. The Adiala Jail superintendent was also directed to ensure that Bushra Bibi is not kept in solitary confinement.
The judgment stated that the petitions were being disposed of with necessary directions and instructed the Adiala Jail superintendent to ensure compliance with the court’s orders.
The Islamabad High Court also directed jail authorities to facilitate meetings between Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan. The court further ordered that Imran Khan be allowed meetings with his family in accordance with prison rules.
The court also directed that Imran Khan be provided with the facility of telephone conversations with his sons. However, according to the judgment, the facility may be withdrawn if recordings of those conversations are used for political purposes.
The court directed the Adiala Jail superintendent to submit a compliance report within 15 days regarding implementation of its directions.
It may be recalled that Aleema Khan had approached the court against the alleged solitary confinement of Imran Khan, while Mubashira Khawar Manika had filed a petition regarding Bushra Bibi. The jail superintendent had denied in his response that either of them was being kept in solitary confinement.
