Islamabad (Web Desk): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday sought a reply from the federal and Punjab governments on plea by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former premier Imran Khan seeking transfer from Attcok Jail to Adiala Jail.
IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Aamer Farooq presided over today’s hearing while Sher Afzal Marwat appeared as the PTI chairman’s lawyer.
At the outset of the hearing, the lawyer representing former premier, Sher Afzal Marwat, informed the court that he went to Attock jail as per the court order a day earlier but he was not allowed to meet his client.
IHC CJ then inquired if the jail has any specified meeting times. To this, Marwat lawyer replied that visitations are allowed till 6pm.
The PTI chief's lawyer further stated that his client is being kept in a small cell measuring 9x5.
“There are mosquitoes, insects and rainwater also seeps into the cell,” he said, adding that “there is no reason to keep the former premier in Attock Jail.
Justice Farooq then stated that an investigation does not equate to harassing individuals, adding that he will look into the matter on the administrator's side.
The PTI lawyer then requested the court to order visitation according to the list, the court replied that it will order according to the list but warned not to hold a “political gathering”.
The court then issued a notice and adjourned the hearing till August 11.
On August 7, the PTI had moved the IHC for the transfer of the party chief and former premier Imran Khan from Attock district jail to Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail.
As per the reports, the PTI chief was given B-Class facilities by the Punjab prisons department. However, his lawyers and the party on Sunday claimed they were not allowed by the jail administration to meet the PTI chairman.
In a petition, it was requested that the former premier be to Adiala Jail where A-class facilities are available, adding that his family, lawyers and personal physician Dr Sultan should be allowed to meet him.
The petition named the state, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Noorul Amin Mengal, and the superintendents of Adiala Jail and Attock Jail the respondents in the case.
The petition further requested for “better class/A-Class” jail facilities to be provided to the PTI chief under Rule 243 (classifying authority) of the Pakistan Prison Rules (PPR) read with Rule 248 (classification of under-trial prisoners) of the same.
The petition added that Khan was being kept in a "small cell of 9 x 11 feet".
Requesting that the court declare Khan's stay in Attock jail "illegal" and that he be moved to Adiala, the petition stated that the former premier be allowed to see his family, doctor and political aides in the "interest of justice."
Imran Khan was arrested on August 5 after a after an Islamabad trial court declared him guilty of “corrupt practices” in the Toshakhana case.
He was awarded a three-year jail term by Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Humayun Dilawar, in the case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for allegedly concealing Toshakhana gifts he had retained.
The PTI chief was arrested from his Lahore's Zaman Park residence and was shifted to Attock jail.
Imran was indicted in the Toshakhana case on May 10 when a trial court rejected his petition challenging the maintainability of the reference.
The PTI chief had challenged the trial court's decision before the IHC, which sent the case back to the trial court for re-examination.
