Accepting former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s petition, a special court in Islamabad on Wednesday ordered the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi’s administration to arrange telephonic talk of former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan with his sons in London under his watch, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Judge Abual Hasnat heard the PTI chairman’s petition.
Advocate Shiraz Ahmad Ranjha, Imran’s counsel, appeared in the court.
The judge remarked that he had just received the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) from the jail superintendent according to which telephonic talk was not allowed. “Still, I look into the matter in the light of the jail manual,” he said.
Advocate Ranjha, however, argued that prisoner’s talk with members of his or her family was not disallowed under the Official Secrets Act. “There is a permission for all other prisoners to have contact with their near and dear ones on telephone,” the advocate added.
The judge asked Imran’s counsel to show him where in the manual it was written that jail inmate’s telephonic talk with family members living abroad was allowed.
Imran’s lawyer admitted that it was not allowed under the manual, but there was a ruling by the Federal Shariat Court in this regard. “All prisoners are allowed telephonic conversation every Saturday,” Advocate Ranjha said.
The judge, however, insisted that he wanted to see where in the manual it was written that telephonic talk with family members living overseas was allowed.
The lawyer prayed to the court to issue a show-cause notice to the Attock jail superintendent for lying to the court.
He also told the court that the PTI chairman wanted a cycle in the jail for doing an exercise.
The judge replied that he had already given instructions to the jail superintendent in this regard.
“If the court permits, I am ready to arrange a cycle for my client,” Advocate Ranjha said.
The judge said he did not want the cycle to be misused. “I am afraid the superintendent might ride the cycle himself,” he added.
Former prime minister’s lawyer replied that if the court had doubts, it could appoint a person to ensure that the cycle was not misused. “We also have to take into account the jail’s manual. For us the prisoner’s security is important,” the judge remarked.
He asked who would take responsibility for bringing to the jail home cooked meal as demanded by the PTI chairman.
The judge then took a break and waited for the arrival of Imran’s sister Aleema Khan.
Reporter: Farzana Siddique