- Advertisement -
By Waseem Kamboh
ISLAMABAD, Oct 23 (APP):The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed the Superintendent of Adiala Jail to implement the court order for prison meetings of the founder of PTI.
The court said that the list of people given by Salman Akram Raja should be allowed to meet PTI founder in jail as per the SOP given in the larger bench decision.
On the occasion, Advocate General Punjab Amjad Pervaiz requested to declare the court’s decision to remove the clause banning political discussions by prisoners from the Punjab Prison Rules null and void.
A three-member larger bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Azam Khan heard the identical petitions filed for prison meetings with the founder of PTI while the petitions filed for implementation of the Punjab government’s prison rules and the agreed SOPs.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Khan Afridi also appeared before the court to pursue his request for meeting with PTI founder.
Advocate General Punjab Amjad Pervaiz said that the single bench declared the prison rule banning political discussions in prison meetings null and void. Neither the Attorney General nor the Advocate General was given notice.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir asked whether it is mandatory to issue a notice to the Attorney General before declaring the law null and void. Advocate General Punjab said that there are examples, notice to the Attorney General is necessary.
It is requested that the single bench’s decision to lift the ban on political speech by prisoners in jail be declared null and void. Salman Akram Raja said that whatever order is made will have an impact on our petitions. He requested the court to hear their contempt of court petitions today. A petition for a meeting with the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also been filed.
He argues that the same larger bench ordered on March 24, but it has not been implemented. According to the court decision, we give names every time, but these names are not allowed to go. The person outside the names that are included in the list is added.
The Superintendent of Adiala Jail said that they have regular meetings. We have not received any list from Salman Akram Raja. They also talk to the media outside the jail in violation of the court decision.
The court adjourned the hearing, ordering jail visits with the PTI founder as per the court decision. After the hearing, Punjab Police SDPO Azhar Shah also executed Aleema Khan’s arrest warrant.