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Saturday November 23, 2024

‘Ban lifted’ on prisoner visits to Adiala jail

Restriction, initially imposed on October 4, was implemented due to heightened security concerns

By Shabbir Dar
October 27, 2024
Police personnel stand outside the entrance of Adiala jail during a hearing of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, in Rawalpindi on January 30, 2024. — AFP
Police personnel stand outside the entrance of Adiala jail during a hearing of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, in Rawalpindi on January 30, 2024. — AFP

RAWALPINDI: The ban on prisoner visits to Adiala jail has been lifted, allowing all meetings to resume on a regular schedule, sources within the facility confirmed to Geo News on Saturday. 

The restriction, initially imposed on October 4, was implemented due to heightened security concerns following a potential terrorist threat and subsequent drills at the facility. 

Adiala jail authorities, where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan is currently detained, had extended the restriction on all visits until October 25.

This is the same facility where Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was held until her release on bail two days ago on Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders. With the ban now lifted, sources state that all prisoners, including high-profile individuals, may again receive visitors.

The visitation ban had stirred discontent within the PTI, as party leaders were unable to meet with Khan, whom they consult on political matters.

After being barred from meeting the former prime minister for more than three weeks, PTI leadership was finally granted permission for a meeting last week following intervention from the IHC. 

Apart from the ban on meetings, another concern expressed by the party’s leadership was Khan’s health and it wanted to get him checked by a doctor, which was also allowed after some hurdles.