IHC weighs legality of Imran, Bushra confinement claims

The Islamabad High Court has reserved its order on petitions seeking to have the alleged solitary confinement of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi declared illegal, after hearing arguments from both sides, Dawn reported.

Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro said the court would issue a ruling after reviewing the record. He also directed the parties to submit in writing any judgments they wanted the bench to consider.

The hearing was attended by Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig, Islamabad Advocate General Naveed Hayat Malik and counsel for the petitioners Barrister Salman Safdar.

During the proceedings, the advocate general argued that the petitions were not maintainable and denied that either Imran Khan or Bushra Bibi had been kept in solitary confinement. He said the prison administration had provided facilities that were even better than those available to B-class prisoners.

He told the court that because of security concerns linked to Imran Khan’s political profile, he had been housed separately from other inmates, but that arrangement could not be described as solitary confinement. He added that the jail authorities had followed earlier court directions by providing newspapers, books and other facilities.

Justice Soomro asked questions about the security setup and whether Imran Khan had been given B-class facilities. The advocate general replied that the former prime minister was receiving even more than the standard amenities for B-class prisoners.

Superintendent Sajid Baig told the court that Imran Khan had already been given more than 500 books, along with daily newspapers. He said the PTI founder was not locked in a single cell for 24 hours and had access to a compound of seven cells, where he could move around during the day.

The case now awaits the court’s written order on whether the conditions in question amount to unlawful solitary confinement.

FAQ

What did the Islamabad High Court do in the case?

The court reserved its order after hearing arguments on petitions related to the alleged solitary confinement of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.

Did the jail authorities accept the solitary confinement claim?

No. According to arguments presented in court, the jail administration denied that the two were being held in solitary confinement.

What facilities were mentioned during the hearing?

The court was told that Imran Khan had received more than 500 books, daily newspapers and access to a seven-cell compound.