IHC restores PTI founder’s biweekly meetings in Adiala Jail 

Islamabad (Web Desk): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reinstated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former premier Imran Khan's right to biweekly meetings at Adiala Jail, though with strict conditions.

As per the ruling issued on Monday, the PTI founder will now be able to meet with his family and legal representatives on Tuesdays, and friends on Thursdays.

However, only those individuals approved by Imran's coordinator, lawyer Salman Akram Raja, will be allowed to visit.

During the proceedings, the court voiced concerns over the potential use of these meetings as platforms for political statements.

Acting IHC Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar emphasized that visitors should refrain from engaging in political discussions or making media statements.

He instructed that the visitors simply meet with Imran Khan and leave the premises without unnecessary publicity.

To enforce this, the court required visitors to sign an undertaking, ensuring they would not make any public statements following their visits.

Jail authorities had previously defended the consolidation of Khan’s visits into a single day, citing security risks. They argued that limiting meetings was necessary for safety reasons.

However, the court dismissed these concerns, reiterating that previous decisions had already permitted biweekly meetings for Imran Khan.

Khan’s legal team had raised objections about the arbitrary denial of scheduled meetings, claiming that a meeting scheduled for March 20 had been blocked despite a formal request.

In response, Justice Dogar directed Imran's lawyers to seek separate approval from the trial court if they wished to arrange for visits by his children.

The decision comes at a time when the PTI founder is embroiled in multiple legal challenges, having been incarcerated since January following his conviction in corruption cases.

His status has shifted from being an under-trial detainee to a convicted prisoner, which has impacted his privileges within the jail.

Despite the jail authorities' insistence on limiting visits due to security concerns, the court made it clear that political debates should not be conducted during or after these meetings.

The legal team representing Imran Khan assured the court that visitors would adhere to the new conditions, paving the way for the resumption of his biweekly meetings.

This ruling provides a measure of relief for his supporters, but the court’s emphasis on restricting political discourse signals an effort to prevent the jail meetings from becoming a platform for political messaging. Any breach of this restriction could result in further legal consequences.