Islamabad Court orders Adiala authorities to present Imran Khan in court today

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi authorities to present the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, before the court at 3 PM today.

“Bring the PTI founder; he will have a meeting with his lawyers,” IHC stated during the hearing of a contempt of court case against the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi Superindentent for not allowing lawyers to meet Khan in jail.

Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan directed the superintendent to record reasons for every time he failed to ensure Imran Khan’s presence before the court.

“The court does not accept the security threats […] the lawyers were not allowed to meet. This is contempt of the court,” Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq remarked.

Citing the imposition of a ban on lawyers meeting with Khan, the State Council informed the court that the Punjab government had imposed the ban on meeting in Adiala jail amidst security concerns.

“Is there a ban on lawyers meeting him? If the Punjab government has prohibited the meeting of the lawyers, it would have committed contempt of court; whoever issued this notification has also committed contempt of court,” the court responded to the state council’s argument on security concerns, and directed the authorities to present the PTI founder in court.

However, later in the day, it was reported that Adiala Jail authorities had arranged for a meeting between Imran Khan and lawyers Salman Akram Raja, Faisal Fareed Chaudhary and Shoaib Shaheen.

Security concerns were cited by jail authorities for being unable to present the PTI founder in court instead. Imran’s lawyers have also been informed about the development, reports said.