IHC directs meeting between Imran Khan and PTI leadership

Court issues order during contempt hearing as objections raised over failure to facilitate party leaders meeting

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court has directed the Superintendent of Adiala Jail to arrange a meeting for former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan with his party leaders on Tuesday.

A three-member bench, headed by Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan, heard the contempt petition.

PTI’s lawyer Faisal Fareed Chaudhry, Advocate General Ayaz Shaukat, and Superintendent of Adiala Jail Abdul Ghafoor Anjum appeared before the court.

Faisal Fareed Chaudhry informed the court that a meeting had been scheduled the previous day, but it was not arranged.

He added that he had been told that Adiala Road was blocked, which had also affected the movement of other leaders, such as Asad Qaiser and Shibli Faraz, who were stopped outside the jail.

Advocate General Islamabad, Ayaz Shaukat, clarified that they had submitted a response in the contempt case, in which it was explained that, according to the court’s order, three coordinators were assigned, but no list had been provided specifying which six individuals wanted to meet Imran Khan.

The court questioned whether a list had been submitted and, if so, when the meetings would be arranged.

In response, the Superintendent of Adiala Jail, Abdul Ghafoor Anjum, explained that the meetings with Imran Khan were scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday, and additional security arrangements were required on other days due to the high-profile nature of the meetings.

The court then ordered that a list of those wishing to meet Imran Khan should be compiled and sent to the Advocate General of Islamabad.

The court expressed hope that this would resolve the ongoing dispute between jail authorities and Imran Khan’s legal team.

Additionally, the court directed that a copy of the list of upcoming meetings be sent to PTI Secretary Salman Akram Raja.

Previously, Senator Faisal Vawda said that the ban on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders meeting with party's founding chairman Imran Khan was imposed at the request of the PTI leaders themselves.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed a trial court to once again hear the acquittal pleas of former prime minister Imran Khan in the £190m case.

Recently, anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on November 8 once again deferred the indictment of former prime minister Imran Khan and others accused in the case related to the attack on GHQ Rawalpindi during the unrest on May 9.

The GHQ attack case involving Imran Khan is linked to his arrest on May 9, 2023, at the Islamabad High Court, where he was attending a hearing related to allegations of corruption.

The attackers breached the GHQ gate and entered the premises, attempting to create an environment of insurrection within the country.

Following Imran's arrest, widespread protests erupted across Pakistan, with his supporters and party members demanding his release.