IHC fixes November 5 hearing on plea seeking jail meeting with PTI founder

ISLAMABAD, Nov 02 (APP): Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday scheduled for November 5 a petition filed by members of the National Dialogue Committee seeking permission to meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail.
Justice Umair Majid Malik will hear the petition along with objections raised by the Registrar’s Office on Thursday.
The petition has been filed through senior lawyer Faisal Fareed Chaudhry on behalf of former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, Mahmood Maulvi and Barrister Saif.
The petition names the Secretary of Interior, Secretary of Home Department Punjab and Superintendent of Adiala Jail as respondents.
The petitioners stated that, being friends of the PTI founder, they were deeply concerned about his health and well-being. They also expressed serious reservations over the alleged inappropriate behaviour and mistreatment by jail authorities.
They further voiced concern over the reported deteriorating health and well-being of Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.
According to the petition, family members, friends and close relatives of the PTI founder had not been allowed to meet him for several months. It stated that restrictions on meetings had fuelled rumours and speculation on social media, contributing to public anxiety and concern.
The petitioners said they had approached the court in the interest of political stability, constitutional supremacy and national reconciliation.
They contended that restrictions on meetings violated Articles 9 and 14 of the Constitution, relevant prison laws and the United Nations Nelson Mandela Rules.
The petition also invoked the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, seeking permission for meetings and interviews with the PTI founder in jail.
The petitioners have requested the court to direct the Adiala Jail superintendent to arrange a meeting between a National Dialogue Committee delegation and Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi at the prison, with an appropriate time fixed to assess their health, welfare and legal protection.