Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the Superintendent of Adiala Jail to implement court orders regarding meetings with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. The directive was issued by a division bench comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Azam Khan.
The court observed that a larger bench of the IHC had earlier ordered that meetings with the PTI founder be arranged in accordance with established SOPs. The bench instructed the jail authorities to facilitate meetings based on the list submitted by lawyer Salman Akram Raja.
During the proceedings, the court suspended the single bench ruling that had struck down the clause in jail rules prohibiting political discussions by prisoners. The Punjab government had challenged the single bench decision, and the court restored the relevant provision restricting political talks inside jails.
Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar headed the larger three-member bench that heard the consolidated petitions concerning Imran Khan's jail meetings. Advocate General Punjab Amjad Pervaiz and Advocate General Islamabad Shahzad Shaukat appeared before the court.
Advocate General Punjab argued that the single bench had declared the jail rule void without issuing notice to the Attorney General or properly making the Punjab government a party to the case. He maintained that under legal precedents, notice to the Attorney General is mandatory before striking down a law or rule.
The bench inquired about the grounds on which the rule was invalidated. The Punjab Advocate General said the single judge had termed it inconsistent with Article 19 of the Constitution concerning freedom of speech. The bench later suspended the single bench's order and restored the rule banning political discussions among inmates.
During the hearing, Imran Khan's counsel Salman Akram Raja requested that the court also hear the pending contempt petitions related to non-implementation of earlier meeting orders. He complained that despite repeated court directives, the authorities were not allowing meetings as per the approved list.
The court ordered the Adiala Jail Superintendent to ensure implementation of its March 24 order regarding meetings and to allow future visits in accordance with the court's directives. However, the court also reminded the counsel and visitors that media interactions should not take place at the jail gate, clarifying that press briefings may be held elsewhere, including offices or later in the evening.
The IHC bench emphasized that its previous directives must be fully implemented and that future meetings with the PTI founder should proceed without unnecessary restrictions, in line with established legal and administrative procedures.