ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday questioned why the Adiala Jail administration had refused to grant lawyers of former prime minister Imran Khan online access to their client, despite Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz having inaugura-ted such a facility in the Kot Lakhpat Jail.

IHC Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan was hearing a petition seeking Mr Khan’s meeting with his lawyers. The PTI founder’s counsels have sought an online meeting with him.

On Sunday, Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif had visited Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail, where she had inaugurated a video call facility for prisoners.

But in his written response to the petition, the Adiala jail superintendent stated that there was no provision for online meetings in the jail rules.

Superintendent tells IHC no provision for virtual moots in jail rules; judge recalls inauguration of such an initiative in Lahore prison

Noting that the Punjab chief minister had recently announced such a facility at the Kot Lakhpat Jail, the judge asked how online meetings were allowed in one jail of Punjab, if they were not permissible in another prison.

“If there was no provision in the jail rules, how was it done in Kot Lakhpat Jail,” the judge observed.

He sought an explanation from the jail authorities on the date of the next hearing on March 29.

State counsel Abdul Rehman sought some time from the court to seek instructions.

The judge, however, remarked that there was no need for this as the reply of the jail superintendent was self-explanatory.

Amicus curiae Zainab Janjua told the court that being an officer of the Punjab government, the reply of the Adiala jail super-intendent should not be contradictory to the policy of the provincial government.

Justice Khan remarked that the question had arisen on whether the rules permitted political discussion in jail or not.

“If the court arrives at this conclusion that inmates are allowed to deliberate upon political matters, then the rules may be amended,” he added.

The judge said he knew where the jail authorities were receiving their orders from, adding that if 200 civil servants refused to obey such illegal orders, this practice would stop.

The judge also did not appear convinced by the reply of the Islamabad advocate general, who submitted that meetings with Imran Khan had been curtailed owing to security threats, and such restrictions were in place in three other jails as well.

He observed that life seemed to be carrying on as usual, with planes continuing to fly overhead — a reference to rehearsals for the Pakistan Day parade, scheduled to be held today (Saturday).

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2024