A very important and big news is coming out from the corridors of politics and judiciary of neighboring country Pakistan. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, who were behind bars for a long time in corruption and various legal cases, have been provided a major relief by the court. The Islamabad High Court has imposed strict restrictions on keeping this high-profile couple lodged in solitary confinement in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail. Along with this, the court has given strict instructions to the jail administration to ensure that both of them meet each other as per the rules and also give full permission to their family members to meet. This decision has once again heated up the politics of Pakistan and PTI supporters have welcomed this step of the court. The family had approached the court against solitary confinement. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister of the country Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been imprisoned in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail for a long time under tight security. Recently, there were continuous complaints from their family that both of them have been kept in separate and completely solitary confinement by the jail administration, due to which their mental and physical condition is being adversely affected. Taking cognizance of this serious situation, Imran Khan's sister Alima Khan had approached the court. Along with this, a separate petition was also filed on behalf of Bushra Bibi's daughter Mubashara Khawar Maneka. The petitions alleged that human rights were being violated inside the jail and they were neither being allowed to meet their families nor were being given basic legal and human rights. Historic decision and instructions of Islamabad High Court Understanding the seriousness of the matter, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro of Islamabad High Court, while completing the hearing in this case, gave an important and detailed decision. The court clearly said in its order that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi should be given full facilities to meet each other while remaining within the ambit of jail manual and rules. Apart from this, the court also directed the Adiala Jail Superintendent to allow other family members of Imran Khan to meet him as per the rules. Not only this, the judge also ordered the officials to ensure proper arrangements for telephone calls between the former Prime Minister and his sons, so that he can maintain communication with the family. Orders to provide books, newspapers and medical facilities in the jail Amidst the claims of injustice and solitary confinement, the court has also ordered the jail administration to fully respect the rights of the prisoners. The court gave strict instructions to the Adiala Jail administration to provide Imran Khan with newspapers and books to read on a daily basis, so that he can stay connected with the activities of the country and the world. Besides, the court also asked to ensure that considering his age and health, he gets high level medical facilities on time as per the prison rules. The court made it clear that all these instructions should be followed with utmost strictness and ordered the Adiala Jail Superintendent to submit a compliance report on all these points before the court within exactly 15 days from today. Imran Khan is in jail since August 2023, questions have also been raised regarding his health. It is noteworthy that former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan is serving jail sentence in various cases since August 2023. His supporters, party leaders and family members have repeatedly alleged that the current government of the country and the prison administration have systematically limited his access to the outside world, family and lawyers, and that he is not getting proper treatment. However, the Pakistan government and prison authorities have always denied all these allegations. Only last month, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had directed the government to shift Khan to a private hospital 'Shifa International Hospital' for better treatment, as the family was continuously expressing concern about his health, especially the eye disease. However, later due to security and other administrative reasons, he was taken to the government-owned 'Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences' (PIMS) for medical examination and after the necessary procedure was sent back to Adiala Jail. Legal troubles and current situation of Bushra Bibi: Talking about the legal journey of Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi, she was first sent to jail on 31 January 2024 after being convicted in a corruption case. After being behind the bars for almost nine months, she got bail from the court on 24 October 2024 and was released. However, this period of relief did not last long and he was arrested again on 17 January 2025 after being convicted by the court in another corruption-related case. From then till now he has been continuously lodged in Adiala jail. After this latest decision of Islamabad High Court, it is now hoped that his human rights will be protected inside the jail and his contact with his family will be facilitated.
