ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday sought a detailed report and prison record from the Adiala jail superintendent related to the alleged solitary confinement of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.
IHC judge Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued the directives while hearing petitions filed by Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan and Bushra Bibi’s daughter, Mubashra Khawar Maneka.
During the previous hearing on Tuesday, the judge had observed that convictions in National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases did not carry solitary confinement as a punishment. He had said the court had examined both judgments and found no sentence of solitary confinement.
At the outset of the hearing, Justice Soomro directed the jail superintendent to explain whether the two prisoners had been placed in solitary confinement and, if so, under which legal provisions, under what circumstances and for what duration. The court will decide the maintainability of the petitions after the jail authorities submit their report, the judge remarked. The judge also sought a report detailing the facilities being provided to the former prime minister and his wife in jail.
The judge ordered the inspector general of prisons and superintendent of the jail to ensure that their nominated representatives appear before the court at the next hearing. He said the officials appearing before the court must be fully aware of the facts and circumstances of the case.
Meanwhile, the judge adjourned the hearing till August 6.
