IHC asks for report about arrangements for Islamabad prisoners detained in Adiala Jail
Islamabad, March 27: The Islamabad High Court, while hearing the plea of former Prime Minister Imran Khan to meet his lawyers in jail, questioned the arrangements for prisoners from Islamabad detained at Adiala Jail. The Chief Commissioner of Islamabad has been directed to submit a report on this matter.
According to media reports, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir of the Islamabad High Court presided over the case and received a detailed report.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir raised concerns regarding the arrangement under which prisoners from Islamabad are being held at Adiala Jail, stressing the importance of transparency. He urged the relevant authorities to present any relevant notifications or arrangements before the court for scrutiny.
In response to the court's queries, Shirafazl Marwat mentioned a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior prohibiting meetings in jail. However, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir noted that the said notification had expired, underlining the necessity for compliance with current regulations.
Furthermore, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir emphasized the court's commitment to address issues pertaining to prisoners from Islamabad exclusively. He emphasized the need for cooperation between relevant authorities and the prison administration to ensure smooth proceedings.
During the proceedings, the public lawyer from Punjab highlighted that former Prime Minister Imran Khan faced no such issues when detained in Attock jail. The court directed the chief commissioner to submit a fresh report on the matter, allowing time for a comprehensive response.
The court adjourned the hearing until after Eid. Previously, during a hearing on Imran Khan's plea, Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq had questioned the legality of online meetings being allowed in one prison but not in another. The court had expressed dissatisfaction with the jail administration for failing to facilitate Imran Khan's lawyer meetings, despite previous orders.
It is pertinent to mention that on February 26, the Islamabad High Court had granted permission to Imran Khan to meet his lawyers in isolation. Subsequently, on March 4, the court had called for responses from relevant parties regarding a contempt of court petition against the jail administration for non-compliance with court orders.
