It says it will decide whether the allegations are sustainable only after receiving the reports.
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought a detailed report and criminal record from the superintendent of Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi in a case related to allegations that former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi are kept in solitary confinement.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued the order on Saturday while hearing petitions related to the alleged solitary confinement of the PTI founder and his wife.
The court directed the superintendent of Adiala jail to submit a full report explaining whether Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi had been kept in solitary confinement.
If so, the report must specify why they were placed in solitary confinement, under what law, for how long, and whether the confinement amounted to a form of punishment. The IHC noted that it would decide whether the petitions were maintainable only after receiving the reports.
The court also ordered the jail authorities to submit details about the conditions under which Imran and Bushra are being held as well as the facilities provided to them inside the jail.
He asked the superintendent to explain to what extent the allegations of solitary confinement were true and to provide full details.
The court also ordered prison authorities to explain under what legal provision prisoners were allegedly kept in solitary confinement, for how long and under what circumstances.
The court also directed the Inspector General of Prisons to ensure the appearance of a prison officer of superintendent rank in the next hearing along with relevant prison records, prison records and all documents related to both prisoners.
He said the officer appearing in court must have full knowledge of the facts and circumstances of the case. The IHC adjourned the hearing until August 6.
Last week, Aleema Khanum, sister of Imran Khan, filed a writ petition before the IHC seeking a declaration that her brother’s prolonged solitary confinement and incommunicado detention in Adiala Jail is illegal, unconstitutional and lacks legal authority.
The petition, filed under Article 199 of the Constitution through a legal team led by advocate Salman Safdar and advocate Salman Akram Raja, named the superintendent and deputy superintendent of Adiala jail, inspector general of prisons Punjab, NAB chairman, FIA director general, PIMS medical superintendent and the state as respondents.
According to the petition, Imran is serving sentences in two cases – the Al-Qadir Trust case and the Toshakhana Bvlgari Set case – and his appeals against both convictions, along with applications for suspension of sentence, are currently pending before the IHC.
He maintained that since his conviction in the Bvlgari Set case, his brother has been subjected to “a rigorous, harsh and unprecedented solitary confinement regime.”
According to the petition, Imran is kept in solitary confinement for approximately 22 hours a day, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, is kept in solitary confinement for 24 hours a day.
The petition drew special attention to Imran Khan’s deteriorating eyesight. He claimed that he had lost about 85% of vision in his right eye and had been taken out of Adiala Jail on at least four occasions for injections at PIMS.
