The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered Adiala Jail authorities to end any sort of solitary confinement of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi and directed that the couple be allowed to meet.
Justice Khadim Hussain Somroo issued the order while disposing of petitions challenging the alleged isolation of the two prisoners.
The court also directed jail officials to facilitate family meetings for Imran and allow him telephone contact with his sons under specified conditions.
The telephone facility may be withdrawn if recordings of conversations between Imran and his sons are used for political purposes, the court said.
The court further ordered authorities to provide Imran with newspapers and books every day and ensure that he receives medical facilities in accordance with jail rules.
The petitions were filed by Aleema Khanum on behalf of Imran and Mubashra Khawar Maneka, Bushra Bibi’s daughter.
They sought a declaration that the alleged solitary confinement of the former prime minister and his wife was illegal.
The IHC said the petitions were maintainable, meaning the court had jurisdiction to hear them, in light of earlier judgments including the Nusrat Bhutto case and rulings relating to Begum Shamim Afridi.
The Adiala jail superintendent was directed to implement the court’s orders and submit a compliance report within 15 days.
Imran has been held in prison since August 2023 following convictions that he and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party have described as politically motivated.
