IHC CJ asks why Imran Khan was shifted to Attock Jail
Stay tuned with 24 News HD Android App
Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Justice Aamer Farooq said on Wednesday that investigation did not mean harassing somebody, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
During the hearing of the petition filed by former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan for his transfer from Attock Jail to Adiala Jail, counsel for Imran Sher Afzal Marwat told the court that it was on the court’s directives that he and other lawyers had gone to the jail yesterday to meet his client, but the jail authorities refused to let them in.
The CJ asked whether there was a specific time for meeting with the jail inmates.
Advocate Marwat informed the court that visitors were allowed to meet prisoners by 6:00 in the evening. “Yesterday when we went to see Imran, the jail administration did not allow us to meet him, saying the time was over,” he replied.
The chief justice admitted it was negligence on his part since order from the court was not issued on time.
CJ Farooq said everybody, including prisoners, had rights. “A prisoner should get that right which has been guaranteed to him by the constitution,” he said, adding, “The jail administration cannot disallow inmate’s meeting with his lawyer.”
While hearing a plea for the transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan from Attock Jail to Adiala Jail, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq questioned who had ordered to send the PTI chairman to Attock Jail instead of Adiala Jail. The CJ sought further details about the development.
Imran’s lawyer also raised the issue of appearance of his colleague Naeem Haider Panjotha before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team yesterday. “My colleague was questioned for nine hours,” he told the court, adding, “Grilling somebody for so many hours amounted to illegal detention.”
The chief justice asked as to who would decide whether to send the PTI chairman to Adiala or some other jail.
Imran’s lawyer opined that the court only had to determine whether the prisoner’s request for his transfer from jail was done with a mala fide intent.
The court then adjourned hearing of the case until Friday.
Reporter: Rozeena Ali