The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reinstated former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visitation rights, allowing him to meet his family and lawyers twice a week. The decision came after a hearing on multiple petitions related to Khan’s jail conditions and visitation arrangements.
A three-member bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar, reviewed the case alongside Justices Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Muhammad Azam Khan. The bench was tasked with addressing 26 petitions, which also included contempt of court applications against the Superintendent of Adiala Jail, Abdul Ghafoor Anjum. These petitions were consolidated for efficiency after the jail superintendent requested the transfer due to logistical challenges.
During the hearing, Khan’s lawyer, Zaheer Abbas, explained that the PTI leader was scheduled to meet with his family on Tuesdays and his lawyers on Thursdays. However, a meeting initially planned for March 20 had been canceled due to standard operating procedures (SOPs) not being followed. Justice Dogar remarked that this was a minor issue that had already been settled in a prior intra-court appeal.
Further discussions raised concerns about the meetings, including the claim that they were sometimes used for political purposes. Lawyer Naveed Malik, representing the jail superintendent, argued that meetings were often held on just one day due to security concerns, especially following Khan’s conviction. He also accused PTI leaders of misusing the meetings for political statements outside the jail.
Justice Dogar questioned whether meetings should continue to be scheduled in one day instead of two, emphasizing that no political discussions should occur following visits. The court also directed that media interactions after the meetings be prohibited. Senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja, representing Khan, reassured the court that there would be no media talks post-visits.
The IHC ruled that only Imran Khan’s designated coordinator could determine who was allowed to meet him, limiting access to authorized individuals. The court also clarified that any requests for a meeting with Khan’s children should be directed to the trial court for consideration.
This ruling restores Khan’s visitation rights while imposing strict conditions aimed at preventing the meetings from being used for political purposes.
