In a relief for the ousted prime minister, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday reinstated visiting days for imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, permitting meetings every Tuesday and Thursday. However, only individuals listed by his coordinator, Salman Akram Raja, will be allowed to visit.
The decision came as IHC Acting Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar, leading a three-member bench including Justices Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Muhammad Azam Khan, heard consolidated petitions on Khan’s visitation rights. The bench was formed after Justice Dogar merged multiple petitions following a plea by Adiala Jail Superintendent Abdul Ghafoor Anjum.
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Previously, the jail superintendent had restricted Khan’s meetings to Tuesdays using discretionary powers. The issue of access to the incarcerated leader has been contentious, with multiple court petitions filed to gain permission to meet him.
Earlier, the IHC had sought Khan’s virtual appearance via video link and later ordered his physical production in court after a petition by PTI’s Mashal Yousafzai. However, security concerns cited by the Islamabad advocate general prevented his appearance. The matter intensified further when IHC’s Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan initiated suo motu contempt proceedings after the case was delisted and reassigned.
During the hearing, the jail superintendent’s lawyer, Naveed Malik, stated that Khan’s meetings had followed the same standard operating procedures (SOPs) until December 2024. However, in January 2025, his prisoner status changed from under-trial to convicted, along with heightened security threats. As per the jail manual, meetings were scheduled only on Tuesdays.
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Justice Dogar questioned the need for media engagements after prison meetings, suggesting that visitors should leave immediately afterward. He proposed obtaining an undertaking from visitors to prevent media statements following meetings.
Justice Tahir emphasized that the SOPs allowing visits on Tuesdays and Thursdays had already been determined in the appeal. The jail superintendent’s lawyer argued that due to security concerns, both visits were consolidated into a single day.
Advocate Malik asserted that, according to jail regulations, the superintendent held the authority to regulate meetings as per the circumstances. However, PTI leader Raja requested the court to reinstate the two-day meeting schedule.
Justice Dogar highlighted that over 100 petitions had been filed regarding Khan’s visitation rights, with around 98 already resolved. He stated that a larger bench should decide the matter conclusively to avoid repeated litigation.