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• ATC extends interim bail of Bushra and PTI leaders
• Justice Dogar dismisses contempt proceedings against 36 lawyers
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed jail authorities to submit a report regarding former prime minister Imran Khan’s meetings with his legal team.
While hearing a petition challenging the denial of lawyers’ access to the incarcerated PTI founder, Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas sought the report by March 28.
The PTI’s legal representative appeared before the court.
The jail authorities provided the power of attorney signed by the PTI founder to his legal team, addressing a key legal concern. However, the court still sought clarification on the matter of meetings and communication between Mr Khan and his lawyers.
Justice Minhas emphasised the importance of transparency in the process and instructed the jail authorities to ensure compliance with legal provisions regarding prisoners’ rights to legal consultations.
The case was adjourned until March 28, when the court will review the report submitted by the jail administration.
Meanwhile, Advocate Niazullah Niazi, spokesperson for Imran Khan, stated that, in addition to restricting meetings with lawyers, jail authorities are also not implementing the manual that allows a 72-hour meeting between spouses every 90 days. He said Mr Khan is being denied permission to speak with his children despite court orders.
Interim bail extended
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) extended the interim bail of Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, in three cases related to the November 26 protests.
Bushra Bibi’s counsel informed Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra that she was unable to appear in court due to her detention in the £190 million case. The lawyer requested that investigators be allowed to interrogate her in jail. Granting the request, the court ruled that she should not be arrested in connection with these cases until March 24.
In another case related to a protest outside the Supreme Court building, ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Mohammad Zulqarnain extended the interim bail of PTI leaders until May 5.
During the hearing, the defence lawyer informed the court that a request had been made to obtain CCTV footage of the protest, but no progress had been made. He urged the court to issue directives for the release of the footage.
The lawyer argued that while the accused were willing to cooperate with the investigation, their statements had not yet been recorded. The court ordered the police to complete the interrogation process and ensure that the accused’s statements are documented.
The cases were registered at the Secretariat police station, where PTI leaders and lawyers face allegations related to the protest outside the Supreme Court.
Contempt proceedings dismissed
Acting Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court Sardar Mohammad Sarfaraz Dogar dismissed contempt of court proceedings against 36 lawyers involved in the Feb 8, 2021, attack on the Chief Justice Block.
The contempt proceedings were initiated after lawyers ransacked the chamber of then-chief justice Athar Minallah during a protest against the demolition of their alleged illegal chambers at the Islamabad District Courts.
Justice Dogar scrapped the contempt proceedings after the accused lawyers submitted an unconditional apology in an affidavit.
The court was informed that the Islamabad Bar Council had already dismissed the case. Advocate Babar Awan argued that the incident stemmed from a strike but was exaggerated by the police. He urged the court to close the case, as it had been ongoing for over five years.
Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2025
