LAHORE: Bushra Bibi’s daughter has approached the Lahore High Court seeking permission to meet her mother at Adiala Jail, alleging that jail authorities have repeatedly denied her family visitation rights despite no legal bar.
Mubashra Khawar Maneka filed the petition under Article 199 of the Constitution through Advocate Asif Niswana, President of the Lahore High Court Bar Association. The Punjab government, the inspector general of prisons, and the superintendent of Adiala Jail have been named as respondents.
According to the petition, Bushra Bibi is currently incarcerated at Adiala Jail and, under the Pakistan Prison Rules, her immediate family members are entitled to meet her on designated visitation days, which are scheduled every Tuesday. The petitioner stated that despite multiple attempts, the jail superintendent has refused to grant permission for the meeting.
The petition argues that the denial is unlawful, arbitrary and without justification, noting that the petitioner has not been informed of any security concern or legal restriction that would prevent the visit. It states that Mubashra Khawar Maneka, being the real biological daughter of Bushra Bibi, is deeply concerned about her mother’s physical, emotional and psychological well-being.
Bushra Bibi is serving a seven-year sentence in the £190 million corruption case and was also recently sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment in the Toshakhana-II case related to the purchase of an expensive jewellery set gifted to former prime minister Imran Khan.
The petition maintains that prisoners are entitled to family visitation under the Pakistan Prison Rules and the Constitution, subject only to reasonable security regulations. It contends that the continued refusal has caused mental anguish and emotional distress to the petitioner and violates fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 9 and 14 of the Constitution, which ensure dignity, liberty and humane treatment, including for prisoners.
The petitioner has requested the court to direct the jail authorities to arrange an immediate meeting with her mother on any designated visitation day and to declare the denial of visitation to immediate family members without lawful justification as illegal and unconstitutional.
