ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed all parties to present detailed arguments at the next hearing regarding a petition seeking jail meetings between Bushra Bibi—spouse of the PTI founder—and her daughter.
Presiding over the case, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir reviewed a report submitted by the Superintendent of Adiala Jail, Sajid Beg. The jail administration formally rejected the request for family meetings and access to a personal physician, arguing that political discourse frequently follows such interactions once visitors leave the premises.
The superintendent’s report specifically cited social media activity by Bushra Bibi’s sister, Maryam Riaz Wato, claiming her tweets following family visits justified the restriction. However, the petitioner’s counsel, Salman Akram Raja, challenged this rationale. He informed the court that Ms. Wato resides abroad and has not even visited Adiala Jail.
“How can a daughter be denied a meeting with her mother based on the tweets of a third person?” Raja questioned during the proceedings.
Advocate General Islamabad, Naveed Malik, clarified that the denial of meeting rights was not permanent. He emphasised that the administration must manage a facility currently housing 7,200 inmates. The superintendent added that meetings are conducted six days a week under the Prison Management Information System, strictly following the established jail manual.
Justice Tahir remarked that while the jail’s management system appeared robust, the court intended to fully understand the legal procedures before issuing a ruling. “The court must be fair to everyone, and the administration must work according to the manual,” the judge noted, adding that he did not wish to make a hasty decision.
While adjourning the case until May 14, Justice Tahir suggested that the jail administration should attempt to facilitate a meeting between Bushra Bibi and her daughter in the interim, whenever possible under existing rules.
