The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the superintendent of Adiala Jail to present Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in court today at 3 PM. This directive comes during a hearing regarding a contempt of court case against the jail superintendent for preventing Khan’s lawyers from meeting him.
Imran Khan has been incarcerated at Adiala Jail for over a year, facing numerous legal challenges, with the New Toshakhana reference—the case involving the alleged illegal sale of state gifts—being the only one currently pending against him. Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were arrested shortly after being acquitted in a separate case related to the un-Islamic nikah.
Read More: IHC Grants Bail to Bushra Bibi in Toshakhana Case, Referencing Justice Isa Precedent
Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan emphasized that if the jail superintendent fails to produce Khan, he must provide valid reasons for his absence. He stated, “The court does not accept the security threats […] the lawyers were not allowed to meet, this is contempt of the court.” The judge also directed the jail official to submit a report from the Interior Ministry detailing the specific security threats that warranted the restrictions.
This development occurs as PTI intensifies its efforts to secure Khan’s release, a move echoed by over 60 members of the U.S. House of Representatives who have written to President Joe Biden, urging him to advocate for Khan’s freedom and highlight the importance of human rights in U.S. policy toward Pakistan. The lawmakers have called on Biden to leverage the U.S. government’s influence to address what they describe as widespread human rights abuses in Pakistan.
