PTI founder’s family and party have repeatedly accused prison authorities of “sabotageing” meetings with him
ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was on Thursday not allowed to meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan despite a court order.
The Islamabad High Court has ordered the superintendent of Adiala Prison to implement a March 24 order reinstating the twice-weekly meeting schedule for former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
However, the jail authorities did not allow a meeting with the incarcerated prime minister, forcing the chief minister to leave Rawalpindi.
The directive came as a larger bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and comprising Justices Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Muhammad Azam Khan, collectively considered the 11 petitions filed by PTI leaders regarding Imran’s jail visit. The ex-Prime Minister’s family and party have repeatedly accused prison authorities of “sabotageing” meetings with him.
During the hearing, the IHC directed Adiala Prison Superintendent Abdul Ghafoor Anjum, who was present during the hearing, to allow Imran Prison meetings as per the previous order while adhering to standard operating procedures (SOPs).
He asked the jail official to facilitate the meetings as per the list provided by PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja, who also presented arguments before the court.
Raja and Anjum also exchanged barbs during the hearing as the PTI chief claimed that “not even once” was the IHC’s earlier order implemented despite them giving a list of names, while the jail official claimed that “regular meetings” were held but no list was received.
The petitions taken up by the court included those of newly elected Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who attended the IHC hearing. Soon after the hearing, CM Afridi arrived at Adiala jail to meet Imran, but his convoy was stopped by police at Dahgal check post near the jail.
He staged a brief sit-in outside the prison, demanding implementation of High Court directives allowing his meeting with the jailed party founder.
Speaking to the media outside Adiala Prison, CM Afridi said the refusal to implement a clear decision of the court does not reflect its weakness, but the “impotence of the judiciary” itself.
“If court decisions are not respected, it raises serious questions about the state of justice in the country,” he was quoted as saying.
The chief minister stressed that his visit was “purely constitutional and aimed at seeking advice from his party leader on key policy issues related to governance” in KP, the statement added.
“For the last two years, I have not met my leader. Yesterday’s meeting was important to set a policy direction and move forward in line with Imran Khan’s vision,” Afridi said.
The PTI later released a video on its X account of Afridi addressing the media outside Adiala jail. Afridi said on the occasion that he would seek policy directives from Imran during their meeting.
“Nothing else will happen inside. I have to implement my leader’s policies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He might give me good advice inside. [ ] There is nothing wrong with us wanting to meet our leader,” he added.
A later post shared by the PTI account showed Afridi, along with several others, sitting on the ground. The message said they were not allowed to meet Imran despite court directives.
“A symbolic sit-in is underway,” the statement said.
According to a statement issued later by the KP CM Secretariat, “Despite explicit permission from the court, the chief minister was not allowed to meet his party leader (Imran).”
The chief minister claimed that he had followed all legal and administrative channels, including communications with the Punjab Home Department, the federal government and the chief justice. [of Pakistan] – before approaching the Islamabad High Court.
“Whatever instructions come from Imran Khan, I will implement them in letter and spirit,” CM Afridi asserted. “No cabinet will be formed without the leadership of Imran Khan,” he asserted.
Prisoners’ political discussions
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has stayed a single court’s ruling and reinstated the law banning political talks by prisoners in jail. A larger three-member bench, headed by Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar, delivered a reserved verdict.
The largest bench stayed the decision of single bench Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq and reinstated the law banning political speeches by prisoners in jail. The uninominal college had declared null and void the law prohibiting political speeches to prisoners.
