The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reinstated Imran Khan’s biweekly jail meetings, allowing him to meet his family, lawyers, and friends. However, the court has imposed strict conditions, barring visitors from making political statements after their meetings.
Court’s Decision and New Restrictions
On Monday, the IHC ruled that Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister and PTI’s founding chairman, could meet his family and legal team on Tuesdays, while friends could visit on Thursdays. Only visitors approved by Imran’s coordinator, lawyer Salman Akram Raja, will be permitted.
The court issued a clear directive that meetings should not be used for political messaging. Acting Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar emphasized that visitors should “meet and leave,” without making public statements afterward. To enforce this, visitors must sign an undertaking agreeing to the restriction.
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Jail Authorities’ Security Concerns
Jail officials previously consolidated Imran’s meetings into a single day, citing security threats. They argued that allowing biweekly meetings posed risks. However, the court rejected this reasoning, stating that an earlier ruling had already approved the meetings.
Imran’s legal team contended that jail authorities were arbitrarily denying scheduled visits. Lawyer Zaheer Abbas claimed that a March 20 meeting did not take place despite following proper procedures. The court directed them to approach the trial court separately if they wanted permission for Imran’s children to visit.
Imran’s Legal Challenges and Prison Status
Imran Khan has been in Adiala Jail since January following convictions in corruption cases. His legal status shifted from under-trial to convicted prisoner, limiting his privileges. Jail officials insist that restricting visits is necessary for security, but the court maintained that political discussions should not take place during or after meetings.
Compliance and Future Implications
Imran’s legal team assured the court that visitors would comply with the new restrictions, allowing the meetings to resume. However, any violation of the media gag order could lead to further legal action.
The ruling provides some relief to Imran Khan’s supporters, but the restrictions highlight the judiciary’s effort to keep political messaging out of jail meetings.
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