Court removes objections, issues notices to relevant officials and directs responses by October 23
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. SCREEN CAPTURE
The Islamabad High Court removed the office’s objections and issued notices to all parties in response to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s petition seeking permission to meet Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The case was heard by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The court directed the Home Secretary, Secretary, Home Department, Punjab, Inspector General of Police and Superintendent of Adiala Jail to submit their replies by October 23.
Lawyer Ali Bukhari represented the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister during the hearing.
Read: Sohail Afridi approaches CJP and IHC to secure meeting with Imran Khan
Afridi had written to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi and filed the petition, stating that a meeting with Imran Khan was essential for consultations on cabinet formation and key administrative decisions.
The petition also mentioned that previous requests had already been made to the federal and Punjab home departments.
Earlier, the registrar’s office had raised objections, arguing that the court had already taken up petitions relating to jail meetings with the PTI founder, with established procedures and standard operating protocols (SOPs) for such visits.
The registry office also noted that PTI officials were authorized to prepare weekly meeting lists for visits and that relevant party officials had not been surveyed in the petition.
Representing Afridi, lawyer Ali Bukhari argued that these objections were invalid. He responded that the provincial cabinet had not yet been constituted, making the objection about the approval of the cabinet irrelevant.
After hearing the arguments, the court withdrew all objections and issued notices to relevant officials, directing them to respond by October 23. Further proceedings were adjourned until that date.
