In Islamabad, the lawyer representing the Chairman of the PTI party informed the court about allegations against Bushra Bibi. It was claimed that she attempted to bribe a prison official during her visit to the jail.
Chief Justice Aamir Farooq of the Islamabad High Court presided over the hearing regarding Imran Khan’s request for jail facilities. Assistant Superintendent Hasrat from Attock Jail was present in court.
The PTI Chairman’s lawyer argued that his client was transferred to Attock Jail due to alleged space constraints, suggesting that this transfer was intended to increase his discomfort. They asserted that Adiala Jail had better security arrangements and B-class facilities. They argued for Imran Khan’s right to be transferred back to Adiala Jail with B-class amenities. Furthermore, it was claimed that when Bushra Bibi visited him in jail, she was accused of attempting to bribe a jail official with 20,000 rupees.
During the hearing, the prosecutor contested these claims, stating that B-class facilities no longer existed in the jail; only standard and improved classes were available. They mentioned that Imran Khan had been provided with improved facilities, including raised bathroom walls, a commode, a 21-inch TV, and access to five newspapers. They asserted that the desired facilities were already being provided in Attock Jail.
The Assistant Advocate General informed the court that Imran Khan was given a bed, a chair, a 21-inch TV, and access to five newspapers. He also had the option to choose his meals, including chicken and mutton cooked in desi ghee for two days. Additionally, five doctors were appointed to care for him.
The Chief Justice pointed out that the petitioner’s main concern was the transfer from Adiala Jail to Attock Jail when the trial court had initially ordered him to be held in Adiala Jail. The Assistant Advocate General explained that the Inspector General had the authority to transfer prisoners between jails. The Chief Justice raised questions about the practicality of transporting the accused from Attock to Lakhpat for hearings and inquired about the journey time from Attock Jail to Islamabad, to which the response was an hour and a half, accounting for minor delays during transport.
The Assistant Advocate General indicated that he could provide instructions regarding this matter. Chief Justice Amir Farooq emphasized that undertrial prisoners were usually brought from Adiala Jail and noted that Imran Khan was an undertrial accused in the cipher case. He questioned the possibility of changing the prison during the trial, considering that the trial was scheduled to take place in Islamabad.
The Islamabad High Court adjourned the hearing on Imran Khan’s request for jail facilities and transfer, instructing lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat to meet with Chairman PTI on Thursday. The court also requested information about any notifications issued regarding Imran Khan’s detention status after the suspension of his sentence. The next hearing was scheduled for September 11th.
