IHC halts single bench verdict on jail political ban

ISLAMABAD: A larger bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday suspended a single bench’s verdict that had struck down a clause in the Punjab Prison Rules prohibiting political discussions among inmates.

The decision came after the Punjab government filed an intra-court appeal against the earlier judgment issued by Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan, which had ruled the restriction unconstitutional and in violation of the right to freedom of expression.

Under Section 265 of the Pakistan Prison Rules (1978), prisoners are barred from engaging in political conversations within jail premises.

During Thursday’s proceedings, Punjab Advocate General Amjad Pervaiz urged the court to reinstate the clause until the case is decided. The larger bench accepted the government’s plea and suspended the single bench order.

Separately, the same bench — headed by Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar — heard 11 petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders seeking to enforce prison visitation rights for party founder Imran Khan.

The court directed the Adiala jail superintendent to ensure implementation of its March 24 order, which allows the PTI founder two weekly visits on Tuesdays and Thursdays under established standard operating procedures.