IHC orders facilities for Imran

ISLAMABAD: A two-member bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the Adiala jail superintendent on Monday to bring into use his discretionary powers on a request of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan about provision of facilities in jail and his meeting with his lawyers and family members, and submit a report to the court.

Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard an intra-court appeal of former premier regarding provision of facilities to him in jail.

The petitioner’s counsel stated in the court that Imran Khan was not being provided facilities under the law, and argued that it was against human dignity to put former premier and former foreign minister in a cage during the jail trial.

Justice Gul Hasan wondered why the PTI chairman was being mistreated? “This does not seem like a fair trial,” he remarked. Superintendent Adiala Jail presented an explanation on the show-cause notice, issued for not appearing at the previous hearing, which the court accepted, and discharged the notice.

Lawyer for former premier Sher Afzal Marwat Advocate said that 189 FIRs had been registered against his client. Trial is going on in the special court and seven other cases were under way under the Official Secrets Act.

The court said if the accused was authorised any facility under the law or rules, he should get it. “We want the jail superintendent to exercise his discretionary powers according to the circumstances. The court will issue a decision after receiving reply from the superintendent,” the bench said.

Further hearing would be held on October 26. Meanwhile, Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain, while hearing the cipher case, ordered the Adiala Jail authorities to provide Imran Khan with spin bike for exercise in jail. The court also allowed Imran Khan a meeting with his three sisters -- Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Norin Niazi -- in jail. Former prime minister had moved the court through his lawyer Shiraz Ahmed Ranjha Advocate for provision of cycle for exercise.

In a separate development on October 17, it emerged that the cell of the PTI chairman had been expanded from 35 feet to 60 feet area in Adiala Jail. He had requested the judge about the expansion of his jail cell during the last hearing.