ISLAMABAD: Bushra Bibi, the wife of former prime minister Imran Khan, on Tuesday petitioned the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to let her complete her 14-year sentence in Adiala Jail and set aside a government notification that declared her Banigala residence as a sub-jail.

A special court on Jan 31 sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and wife Bushra Bibi to 14 years in prison in a case of illegal sale of state gifts.

In the petition filed through Barrister Salman Safdar, she cited the Islamabad chief commissioner, superintendent of Adiala Jail, inspector general prisons and the state as respondents in the case.

In the petition, Bushra Bibi stated that following her conviction in the Toshakhana case on Jan 31, she had surrendered to jail authorities at 10am.

She said the deputy superintendent of Adiala Jail informed her that she had to be shifted to another prison to serve her sentence, but she was brought to her residence at Banigala.

“Upon inquiry, the petitioner was informed that by the concerned officials that her residence at Residential Compound, Khan House Banigala, Mohra Noor, Islamabad, has been declared as a sub-jail vide a notification dated Jan 31, 2024,” the petition said.

It said there was no such request whatsoever on behalf of the petitioner to designate her residence as a sub-jail. She said she does not feel herself secure at Banigala where she has been confined alone as unidentified people roamed around the place.

In a separate case, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq restrained the FIA from proceeding against Aleema Khan, the sister of PTI founder Imran Khan. Her counsel, Shiraz Ranjha, argued before the court that Ms Khan did not receive FIA summons and learnt about the case through social media.

Justice Farooq issued notices to FIA and restrained it from proceedings in the matter.

Meanwhile, an ATC of Rawalpindi absolved former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed from three May 9 cases registered against him in Taxila Police Station.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2024