Islamabad High Court (IHC) has conditionally restored PTI founder Imran Khan’s jail meetings twice a week but strictly banned any media talks by family and friends after such meetings, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
A larger bench of the IHC on Monday ruled that meetings will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays inside the jail, but visitors will not be allowed to make media statements afterwards.
A larger bench, comprising Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Muhammad Azam, heard the petitions regarding PTI founder Imran Khan’s jail visits.
Lawyers representing the petitioners and jail authorities, including Adiala Jail Superintendent’s counsel, Naveed Hayat Malik, appeared before the court.
The court also directed the petitioners to approach the trial court regarding PTI Founder’s request for telephonic conversations with his children.
During the proceedings, PTI’s lawyer informed the court that the agreed schedule allows family and lawyers to meet on Tuesdays, while friends visit on Thursdays.
Jail Superintendent’s counsel argued that until December, meetings were conducted under the same SOPs, but the status changed in January due to security threats.
The jail superintendent's counsel also stated that PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, had been convicted since January, altering their jail status.
He further informed the court that security concerns had prompted authorities to merge the two meetings into a single day instead of allowing separate sessions on different days.
Jail Superintendent's counsel, Naveed Malik, insisted that under jail rules, the Adiala Jail Superintendent has the authority to regulate such meetings.
He also accused PTI Founder of misusing jail meetings for political statements, stating that after the meetings, he or his visitors would make public statements outside the jail, violating regulations.
Following these arguments, Islamabad High Court restored the two-day meeting schedule for PTI Founder Imran Khan while dismissing related petitions with guidelines.
Reporter: Ehtisham Kiyani