IHC orders holding meeting of lawyers with PTI founder Imran Khan in jail
ISLAMABAD, March 14 (SABAH): Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered holding meeting of lawyers with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in jail.
On Thursday, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir of IHC conducted hearing against order of restriction on holding meeting with PTI founder in jail. During the hearing, Superintendent Adiala Jail Asad Waraich appeared before the court and told the court that hundreds of applications are being filed for holding meeting with founder PTI. In the court, lawyer Sher Afzal Khan Marwat said that this has been settled in the court of Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan. Superintendent jail said it was ordered that lawyers along with six persons would be allowed to hold meeting with him.
He further said that he has 7000 prisoners, adding the court gave permission to six persons to hold meeting with him but it is not possible for them. To this Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir while talking to superintendent jail said that he come back with a new objection on daily basis, and continued if he did not comply with the court order then why should the contempt of court proceedings are initiated against him? To this, Superintendent Adiala Jail said that he obeys court order and also gave reference of interior Punjab department. The court said they had been agreed that when they would hold meetings and furthered an application of contempt of court is already pending against him.
When hearing again started then lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat told the court that they have agreed a mechanism with Superintendent Adiala Jail. To this the court ordered for appointing a focal person in this regard, we will keep pending this petition and furthered also settle SOPs. To this, Sher Afzal Marwat told the court that four of us today and on Tuesday again will go for holding meeting.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir while talking to superintendent said that they are not asking to give permission to each and every one for holding meeting and added only those six lawyers whose names were given by founder PTI, only those will hold meeting. Superintendent jail said they are facing this problem because everyone is saying that he is lawyer and want to hold meeting with founder PTI. 20 lawyers come on the occasion of hearing and say that they have to go inside the court.
Superintendent jail said that home department has particular directions regarding holding meetings with prisoners. To this the court said they cannot direct to you and it is upon your own will. Afterwards the court gave permission to four lawyers to hold meeting with founder PTI. On this occasion, the government lawyer prayed the court that it should give permission only to talk about the cases. To this the court remarked that don’t go into such depth and ordered to arrange meeting of four lawyers.