The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday issued clear directions to Adiala jail authorities regarding the treatment of former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. Justice Khadim Hussain Somroo announced the reserved verdict on petitions that challenged their alleged isolation inside the jail.
The petitions were filed by Aleema Khanum on behalf of Imran and by Mubashra Khawar Maneka, the daughter of Bushra Bibi. Both argued that keeping the couple in solitary confinement was illegal. The court agreed and ordered jail officials not to hold either of them in isolation.
Imran has been in prison since August 2023. His party has repeatedly called the cases against him politically motivated. After the hearing, the court instructed the Adiala jail superintendent to make sure Imran and Bushra are not kept alone. It also directed authorities to arrange a meeting between the husband and wife.
The IHC further ordered that Imran must be allowed family meetings according to normal jail rules. He should also get telephone access so he can speak with his sons. However, the court warned that this phone facility would be withdrawn if any recordings of those conversations were used for political purposes.
Jail authorities must also provide Imran with newspapers and books every day. Proper medical facilities must be arranged in line with existing jail rules. The superintendent was told to implement all these directions and submit a compliance report within fifteen days.
The court noted that the petitions were maintainable based on earlier judgments, including the Nusrat Bhutto case and rulings related to Begum Shamim Afridi. This decision comes only weeks after the Supreme Court ordered Imran’s transfer from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital for a medical check. Instead, he was taken to Pims, a move the government defended on security grounds while the PTI called it a violation of the court order.
The fresh IHC ruling now focuses on basic rights inside the jail and aims to end the isolation that family members had challenged. Officials at Adiala are expected to follow the new instructions without delay and report back within the given time frame.
