Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the superintendent of Adiala Jail to decide on the meeting requests of Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, within seven days. The order was issued during a hearing on a petition filed by Bushra Bibi seeking permission to meet her family members and legal team.
Court Proceedings
The IHC judge observed that the jail authorities must act in accordance with the law and ensure that the rights of prisoners are not violated. He emphasized that the superintendent should consider the requests based on the jail manual and applicable rules. The court also noted that any decision denying meetings must be communicated with valid reasons.
Bushra Bibi's Petition
Bushra Bibi, who is currently incarcerated at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, had moved the IHC against the alleged denial of meeting privileges. Her counsel argued that she was not being allowed to meet her family members, including her children, and her legal team, which hampered her right to a fair trial. The petition stated that the jail administration was acting arbitrarily.
Jail Superintendent's Response
The superintendent of Adiala Jail was represented by the deputy superintendent, who informed the court that Bushra Bibi had been allowed limited meetings as per the jail manual. However, the judge expressed dissatisfaction with the response and directed the superintendent to personally review and decide on the pending requests within a week.
The court also remarked that the jail authorities should maintain a record of all meeting requests and their decisions to ensure transparency. The case has been adjourned for further hearing after the deadline.
