IHC allows meetings at Imran’s behest only
PHOTO: FILE
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday ordered the Adiala Jail authorities to permit only those individuals to meet PTI founder Imran Khan whose names have been approved by Imran himself.
IHC Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan heard a petition of PTI leaders, Omar Ayub, Asad Qaiser and others against the Adiala jail superintendent for not allowing their meeting with Imran. During the hearing, Jail Superintendent Asad Warraich submitted a written response to the contempt of court case.
The superintendent informed the court that two days ago, arms and ammunition were recovered from the backside of the Jail and two suspects were arrested. He added that a search operation continued throughout the previous day, therefore, no meeting was allowed with the PTI founder.
Warraich said in his report to the court that security personnel were deployed to protect the PTI founder during his meetings in jail. During the meetings, he added, the security officials had been instructed to stay away from the visitors, so that they could not listen to their conversation.
He said that the jail administration had complied with all the orders of the IHC. He explained that after consultation with the lawyers, he fixed days for meeting and formed six batches. He said that now the number of people meeting him had increased.
Islamabad Advocate General said that Tuesday and Thursday were fixed for the meetings in two sessions, adding that six people could meet the PTI founder in one session. The jail superintendent requested the court that the dates for the meetings with Imran should be fixed.
Warraich told the court that lawyers were never stopped from meeting Imran and they were allowed to carry documents and stationery inside the jail. He said that those were not seized by prison authorities but passed through a security scanner, which did not have the ability to copy documents.
The court said that no one would be allowed to give application to the jail superintendent for meeting with Imran. It said that the meeting would be allowed to only those persons whose names were given by Imran himself. Later, the hearing was adjourned until March 15.