Lawyer says PTI chairman in ‘good spirits'

The 70-year-old former premier is being held in a so-called 'C-class cell', sleeping on a mattress on the floor

LAHORE:

from Attock district prison to Adiala Jail, Imran Khan was stated to be in “good spirits” despite the “tough conditions” he faced during incarceration.

The former premier was arrested and sent to Attock jail on Saturday hours after a trial court in Islamabad sentenced him to three years in prison while imposing on him a fine of Rs100,000 for “making false declarations” about his assets to the polls supervisory body.

The PTI stated that it is still to be determined under which law Imran was detained at Attock Jail, as the arrest warrant issued by the trial court was meant for his confinement at Adiala Jail.

"He is being held in deplorable conditions not fit for any human, but he is in good spirits," his spokesperson Raoof Hasan told news agency AFP.

"He said to 'tell the people that I will not compromise on my principles'."

The PTI chief was reportedly kept in C class at Attock Jail.

Speaking to the media, Imran's lawyer Naeem Haider Panjotha, who visited him at Attock Jail, revealed that the party chairman was being confined to a "cramped cell measuring 9 x 11 feet."

“I inquired from Khan sahib about his situation in jail following his arrest. He informed me that he is being held in a dimly lit, compact, C-Class cell, commonly known as a 'chakki wala' room. He mentioned the presence of an open washroom without a shower,” Panjotha recounted while narrating his conversation with the PTI leader.

Read PTI moves IHC to transfer Imran to Adiala jail

As the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to transfer their party chief

“He mentioned that the jail is plagued by flies during the morning and insects in the evening,” Panjotha added.

Khan sahib mentioned that he is being provided the standard daal (lentils) and saag (spinach) meals... however, he conveyed that he does not take issue with this arrangement. Furthermore, he conveyed his readiness if they transfer him to a D-Class jail.

“Khan sahib instructed me to communicate to the media that he will never concede to subjugation," Panjotha emphasized.

He remarked that the PTI chairman praised the determination displayed by the party's workers and senior leadership.

Panjotha further said that the PTI chief told him that his residence was attacked for the third time and that attempts were made to break the door of his bedroom – referring to the former premier’s arrest on Saturday.

“He also said that the PTI core committee will decide the way forward ‘in consultation with me’ … ‘no decision will be taken by a single person’,” Panjotha said.

The lawyer said the former premier urged people to continue their peaceful protests and continue the “war against slavery”.

He additionally asserted that the PTI leader was denied the opportunity to meet or communicate with anyone via phone. "I am the sole individual who has been able to meet him since his arrest," he mentioned, highlighting that Imran was not being granted access to television or newspapers.

The attorney said that the ex-prime minister encountered challenges while attempting to pray due to the limited space of the cell. "However, he affirmed his resolve and conveyed that he would never yield to slavery," Panjotha appended.

 “Khan sahib said there was an open washroom, without any doors or walls, and rainwater entered his cell last night.

“But despite all this, his morale is very high,” the lawyer maintained.

Meanwhile, Panjotha moved the IHC for the transfer of the former prime minister from Attock district prison to Adiala Jail.

In a petition, the lawyer requested the court to transfer the deposed premier to Adiala Jail where A-class facilities are available, adding that his family, lawyers and Dr Sultan should be allowed to meet him.

Imran transferred to ‘better' cell

In a separate development, it was reported that the PTI chief was shifted to cell no 2 in Attock Jail, which has high security and “better facilities”.

The size of cell no 2 was stated to be bigger than the previous one and had a table, chair, mattress, and bed. Moreover, a medical officer had been deputed for 24 hours to conduct Imran's medical examination in three shifts. Security inside and outside the jail was also on high alert.

It was reported that commandos at the prison were deployed around the clock while the external sides of the cells were monitored by CCTV cameras.

Without the permission of the superintendent, no jail officer is allowed to enter the cell where the PTI chief is imprisoned.  A Rescue 1122 ambulance with paramedic staff is also kept outside the jail 24 hours a day.

Earlier, the core committee of the PTI issued a strong condemnation over the detention of their party chief in Attock Jail, denouncing the conditions of his confinement as “deplorable and inhumane”.

In a statement, the committee expressed deep concern over the treatment meted out to their party leader during his incarceration.

The committee labelled the situation as “shameful” and raised serious questions about the conditions under which the former premier is being held.

The committee said that the “fascist government” had imprisoned the “most popular leader” in an inhumane and dangerous environment in terms of health and security.

“The fascist government which has shed the blood of law and values in the fire of hatred and revenge will have to answer the nation about their deed,” the statement said.

It noted that the “exemplary success” of the PTI in the local government elections of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) was a manifestation of the nation's confidence in Imran Khan.

Felicitating PTI K-P President Ali Amin Gandapur, the provincial organisation, workers and the people, the core committee maintained that the PTI chairman had predicted that the nation would vote for PTI even if he was sent behind the bars.

With input from AFP