ISLAMABAD:
As Adiala Jail authorities again denied permission to PTI leaders to meet party founder Imran Khan on Thursday, the government defended the medical treatment provided to the jailed couple.
Responding to a point of order raised by PTI’s parliamentary leader in the Senate, Ali Zafar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan informed the upper house of parliament that PTI founder, his wife Bushra Bibi, was in judicial custody and all matters relating to her custody and facilities were being dealt with in accordance with court orders and jail rules.
He said Bushra Bibi and the PTI founder had been convicted by the courts and were currently in judicial custody.
He said the issue regarding detention conditions had already been discussed in the higher judiciary, including the High Court and the Islamabad Supreme Court.
Sanaullah said senior advocate Salman Safdar had earlier been appointed friend of the court and had visited the jail before submitting a report on the living conditions and facilities available to the PTI founder.
He said the report submitted by Salman Safdar was consistent with the report given by the jail superintendent on the facilities and living conditions in custody.
The advisor said Bushra Bibi was also in judicial custody and if there was any health-related problem, it was the responsibility of the prison authorities and relevant institutions to ensure her treatment.
He said that when necessary, she was taken to hospital and given medical treatment, adding that there was no negligence regarding her medical care.
Sanaullah said if the opposition wanted more facilities or arrangements regarding judicial custody, the appropriate forum was the court, which could issue relevant directions.
He suggested that Senator Ali Zafar could also approach the court on the matter and review all reports and details related to the detention conditions.
Meanwhile, PTI leaders including Khurram Virk, Naseem Ali Shah, Zahir Shah, Rajab Abbasi, Zar Aalam and Rubina Shaheen reached Adiala Jail but were not allowed to meet Imran Khan till the end of visiting hours.
Zahir, speaking to the media, said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had announced preparations for the final round of the movement against the imprisonment of the PTI founder.
He said that as soon as instructions are received from the party founder, the movement will move forward, adding that the struggle is not over yet.
“Obstacles are deliberately created, resulting in serious damage to the judiciary, and that is why court orders to arrange a meeting with Imran Khan are not being executed,” Zahir said.
Meanwhile, the PTI expressed grave concern and outrage over reports that Bushra Bibi was suddenly and secretly taken to a hospital in the middle of the night and then returned to jail without informing her family, lawyers or the party.
In a statement, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said it was deeply regrettable that a prisoner, who was also the wife of a former prime minister, was deprived of basic human and medical rights even though her health condition was deteriorating with each passing day.
