The PTI founder’s family and party have repeatedly accused prison authorities of “sabotaging” meetings with him.
ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was on Thursday not allowed to meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan despite a court order.
The Islamabad High Court directed the superintendent of Adiala Jail to implement a March 24 order restoring the twice-weekly meeting schedule for former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
However, prison authorities did not allow a meeting with the imprisoned prime minister, forcing the prime minister to leave Rawalpindi.
The directive came as a larger bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and comprising Justices Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Muhammad Azam Khan, collectively addressed the 11 petitions filed by PTI leaders regarding Imran’s jail visits. The former prime minister’s family and party have repeatedly accused prison authorities of “sabotaging” meetings with him.
During the hearing, the IHC directed Adiala Jail Superintendent Abdul Ghafoor Anjum, who was present during the hearing, to allow Imran’s meetings in the jail, as per the earlier order, adhering to the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
He directed the jail official to facilitate the meetings as per the list provided by PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja, who also submitted arguments before the court.
Raja and Anjum also exchanged barbs during the hearing when the PTI leader claimed that “not even once” the previous IHC order was implemented even though they gave a list of names, while the jail official claimed that “regular meetings” were held but no list was received.
The petitions accepted by the court included those of newly elected Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who attended the IHC hearing. Soon after the hearing, CM Afridi reached Adiala jail to meet Imran, but police stopped his convoy at the Dahgal checkpoint near the jail.
He staged a brief sit-in outside the jail, demanding the implementation of the high court’s directives to allow him to meet the jailed party founder.
Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail, CM Afridi said the refusal to implement a clear court order reflects not his weakness but the “impotence of the judiciary” itself.
“If court orders are not respected, serious doubts are raised about the state of justice in the country,” he said.
The prime minister stressed that his visit was “purely constitutional and was aimed at seeking guidance from his party leader on key political issues relating to governance” in KP, the statement added.
“For the last two years, I have not met my leader. Yesterday’s meeting was important to take political direction and move forward in line with Imran Khan’s vision,” Afridi said.
The PTI later posted a video on its X account of Afridi speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail. Afridi said on the occasion that he would seek political guidelines from Imran during their meeting.
“Nothing else is going to happen inside. I have to implement my leader’s policies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He could give me some good advice inside.” [ ] “There is nothing wrong with us wanting to meet with our leader,” he added.
A later post shared by the PTI account showed Afridi, along with several other people, sitting on the ground. The post said they were not allowed to meet Imran despite court directives.
“A symbolic sit-in is taking place,” he said.
According to a statement later issued by the KP CM Secretariat, “Despite the court’s explicit permission, the prime minister was not allowed to meet his party leader (Imran).”
The chief minister claimed that he had followed all legal and administrative channels, including communications with the Punjab Home Department, the federal government and the chief justice. [of Pakistan] – before approaching the Islamabad High Court.
“Whatever instructions come from Imran Khan, I will implement them in letter and spirit,” CM Afridi said. “No cabinet will be formed without the leadership of Imran Khan,” he said.
Political talks by prisoners.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) stayed the decision of a single court and reinstated the law prohibiting political conversations among prisoners in prison. A three-member larger bench headed by Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar issued a reserved verdict.
The largest court stayed the decision of the single bench, Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq, and reinstated the law banning political speech by prisoners in prison. The single-member court had declared null and void the law prohibiting political expression by prisoners in prison.
