The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the superintendent of Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail to provide a comprehensive report and jail records concerning allegations that former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, are being held in solitary confinement. Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued the order on Saturday while hearing petitions filed by Khan's sister, Aleema Khanum, challenging the conditions of their detention.
Court's Directives and Inquiry
The IHC instructed the jail superintendent to clarify whether Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have been subjected to solitary confinement. If so, the report must specify the legal authority under which they were placed in isolation, the duration of such confinement, and whether it constitutes a form of punishment. The court also demanded details about the prisoners' living conditions and the facilities provided to them inside the prison.
Justice Soomro observed that the court would decide on the maintainability of the petitions only after reviewing the submitted reports. The court also ordered the Inspector General of Prisons to ensure that a jail officer of superintendent rank appears at the next hearing, fully briefed on the facts, along with all relevant jail records, prison registers, and related documents.
Allegations of Prolonged Isolation
Last week, Aleema Khanum filed a writ petition under Article 199 of the Constitution, alleging that Imran Khan's solitary confinement and incommunicado detention are illegal and unconstitutional. The petition, led by Barrister Salman Safdar and Advocate Salman Akram Raja, names the Adiala Jail superintendent and deputy superintendent, the Punjab inspector general of prisons, the NAB chairman, the FIA director general, the medical superintendent of PIMS, and the state as respondents.
According to the petition, Imran Khan is serving sentences in the Al-Qadir Trust Case and the Toshakhana Bvlgari Set Case, with appeals pending before the IHC. Since his conviction in the Bvlgari Set Case, he has been subjected to "unprecedented, harsh, and rigorous solitary confinement." The petition claims he is isolated for approximately 22 hours a day, while Bushra Bibi is held in solitary confinement for 24 hours daily.
Health Concerns Highlighted
The petition specifically highlights the deterioration of Imran Khan's eyesight, stating he has lost about 85% of vision in his right eye. It notes that he has been taken out of Adiala Jail on at least four occasions for injections at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The court has adjourned the hearing until August 6, pending the submission of the required reports.
