IHC seeks prison report in pleas over alleged isolation of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday directed Adiala jail authorities to place on record a detailed report and prison documentation in petitions alleging that former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi are being kept in isolation.

Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued the order while hearing petitions brought by Khan’s sister Aleema Khan and Bushra Bibi’s daughter Mubashra Khawar Maneka. The judge said the court would examine whether the petitions are maintainable after receiving the response from prison officials.

Court seeks legal basis and jail record

At the hearing, Justice Soomro asked the jail superintendent to clarify whether the two inmates had in fact been placed in solitary confinement and, if so, under what legal provisions, in which circumstances and for how long. He also sought details of the facilities being extended to the PTI founder and his wife in prison.

The court further instructed the inspector general of prisons and the jail superintendent to ensure that their nominated representatives attend the next hearing and that the officials appearing before the bench are fully informed about the case record and relevant facts. The matter was then adjourned until August 6.

Earlier proceedings and arguments

During the previous hearing on Tuesday, the judge had noted that the punishments awarded in National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases did not include solitary confinement. He had said the court had reviewed both judgments and did not find any sentence ordering such confinement.

At that earlier hearing, counsel for the petitioners, Barrister Salman Safdar, argued that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi had been kept in solitary confinement for months in breach of prison rules. He told the court that he had been able to meet Khan after a court order, but had not been allowed access to Bushra Bibi for the last seven months. He further alleged that Khan was being kept confined for about 22 hours daily, while Bushra Bibi was being kept isolated throughout the day.

NAB prosecutor Rafi Maqsood opposed the petitions, arguing that Aleema Khan and Mubashra Khawar Maneka were not aggrieved parties and therefore did not have legal standing. He denied that the couple was being held in solitary confinement and said their custody was being managed under prison rules applicable to convicted prisoners. He also argued that the petitioners had not first approached prison authorities before seeking constitutional relief.

The federal government, NAB and the Islamabad advocate general had asked the court to dismiss the petitions as not maintainable. After hearing the parties, the court had reserved its ruling on maintainability before calling for the fresh report from jail authorities.

Case background

Imran Khan has remained in jail since August 2023. He is facing multiple cases, including matters related to corruption and terrorism, following his removal from office through the opposition’s no-confidence vote in April 2022.