ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Monday directed the Adiala jail superintendent to submit a response regarding the refusal to accept Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder (PTI) Imran Khan’s signature on a power of attorney.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro presided over the hearing on a petition filed by Imran’s lawyer Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry. Justice Soomro enquired about the legal procedure involved in the matter, to which Chaudhry explained that a legal process was in place, referring to the jail policy and a precedent set by the Lahore High Court.
He also highlighted that the jail rules regarding access to prisoners were well-defined, citing the international Nelson Mandela Rules for prisoners’ rights.
Chaudhry informed the court that despite multiple visits to Adiala jail and after sending the documents via courier, the documents for the power of attorney were not accepted, and in the latter case, the jail authorities claimed to have never received them.
The hearing was adjourned until May 25, with the court issuing a notice to the prison superintendent, instructing him to respond by then.
The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aain Pakistan wrote on X that efforts to deprive Imran of his legal and constitutional rights were part of a “systematic effort” to deprive him of his rights.
It further said that the repeated refusals to accept power of attorney documents and deny access to legal counsel were part of a larger campaign of political vengeance.
“Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry visited Adiala jail on March 27, April 2, and April 3 to obtain signatures from Imran Khan on power of attorney documents, but the jail authorities refused to even accept the documents.”
The statement also reiterated that despite these efforts, “Imran Khan has never bowed, nor will he ever,” asserting that the power of the Constitution, the law and the people would ultimately prevail over injustice.
“First the arrests, then false cases, then restrictions on meetings, and now efforts to block even legal documents — this all serves as proof that the chain of political revenge against Imran Khan continues to this day.”
