ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Thursday directed the Adiala jail superintendent to implement a March 24 order that reinstated the twice-a-week meeting schedule for former prime minister Imran Khan.
The directive came as a larger bench, led by Justice Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and including Justices Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Muhammad Azam Khan, collectively took up all 11 petitions filed by PTI leaders regarding Imran’s jail visitation. The ex-premier’s family and party have repeatedly accused prison authorities of “sabotaging” meetings with him.
During the hearing, the IHC directed Adiala jail’s Superintendent Abdul Ghafoor Anjum, who was present during the hearing, to allow Imran’s jail meetings, as per the earlier order, while abiding by standard operating procedures (SOPs).
It directed the jail official to facilitate the meetings as per the list provided by PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, who also presented arguments before the bench.
Raja and Anjum also traded barbs during the hearing as the PTI leader claimed that “not even once” was the earlier IHC order implemented despite them giving a list of names, while the jail official asserted that “regular meetings” were held, but no list was received.
Petitions taken up by the bench included those by newly elected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who attended the IHC hearing. Shortly after it concluded, Afridi departed for Adiala jail but later claimed he was denied a meeting with Imran.
The PTI later posted a video on its X account of Afridi speaking to the media outside the Adiala jail. Afridi said on the occasion that he would be seeking policy guidelines from Imran during their meeting.
“Nothing else is going to take place inside. I have to implement my leader’s policies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He might give me some good advice inside […] There is nothing wrong with us wanting to meet our leader,” he added.
A subsequent post reshared by the PTI’s account showed Afridi, along with several others, sitting on the ground. The post stated that they were not being allowed to meet Imran despite court directives.
“A symbolic sit-in is under way,” it said.
According to a statement later issued by the KP CM Secretariat, “Despite the court’s explicit permission, the chief minister was not allowed to meet his party leader (Imran).”
Speaking to media persons outside the Adiala jail, CM Afridi said that the refusal to implement a clear court order reflects not his weakness, but the “helplessness of the judiciary” itself.
“If court orders are not being respected, it raises serious questions about the state of justice in the country,” he was quoted as saying.
The chief minister stressed that his visit was “purely Constitutional and aimed at seeking guidance from his party leader on key policy matters related to governance” in KP, the statement added.
“For the past two years, I have not met my leader. Yesterday’s meeting was important for taking policy direction and moving forward in line with the vision of Imran Khan,” Afridi said.
The PTI leader asserted that he had followed every legal and administrative channel — including communications with the Punjab Home Department, the federal government, and the chief justice [of Pakistan] — before approaching the Islamabad High Court.
“Whatever instructions come from Imran Khan, I will implement them in letter and spirit,” CM Afridi asserted. “No cabinet will be formed without the guidance of Imran Khan,” he affirmed.
Court did not say to tape our mouths: Salman Raja
Punjab Advocate General (AG) Amjad Pervaiz and Islamabad AG Ayaz Shaukat appeared before the court today and presented their arguments on their separate appeals challenging the striking down of the bar on prisoners’ political talks.
At one point during the hearing, PTI’s Raja attempted to present his contentions but was stopped by Justice Dogar. The IHC chief justice told the lawyer to let the Punjab government counsel complete his arguments first.
Raja said he wanted to assist the court, at which Justice Dogar said the former’s assistance was not needed.
Here, Pervaiz referred to the 1992 Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao case, adding that it was held that a notice under Order 27A of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Justice Tahir then asked Raja if he wanted to say something, at which the PTI lawyer said he wanted to assist the court.
After Pervaiz completed his arguments, a representative from the attorney general’s office informed the court that he was supporting Pervaiz’s stance. In his arguments, Islamabad AG Shaukat said he had raised objections, but they were “dismissed”.
At this point, Raja claimed that the March IHC order had not been implemented “on even one day”. “We give a list of names [for the meeting] repeatedly as per the court order, but those people are not allowed inside [the jail],” he said.
He went on to allege, “An outsider is added to the names given in the list.”
Anjum, the jail superintendent, then asserted that the PTI leaders “regularly” have meetings with Imran. He further said that the jail administration received no list from Raja.
“The court restricted them from speaking to the media after meeting [Imran, but] they speak to the media after coming outside [the jail],” Anjum said.
In response, Raja quipped, “The court said not to speak to the media at the [jail] gate; it did not say to tape our mouths.
“We are kept a mile away from the Adiala jail, where we speak [to the media],” he added.
Subsequently, the court ordered the Adiala jail superintendent to implement the March 24 order that allows Imran to have two meetings per week with visitors, while placing restrictions on the latter’s media interactions.
The bench observed that while the PTI leaders were not barred from holding a media talk, they should not speak at the jail’s gate, but rather in a “chamber” or somewhere else later. Raja assured the court that they would not speak at the prison’s gate.
