IHC seeks response to contempt plea over refusal to meet lawyer with Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday sought a written response from Islamabad’s advocate general in a contempt of court petition filed over failure to facilitate a meeting between PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja and party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan at Adiala jail, as the court questioned how the proceedings could move forward without legal consultation.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir was hearing a petition filed by citizen Ghulam Murtaza challenging the blocking of the PTI founder’s X account, as well as a related contempt plea over failure to enforce a court order allowing meetings with a lawyer.

During the hearing, the court declared the response of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in the Account X case “unsatisfactory”, observing a clear discrepancy between the relief sought in the writ petition and the response submitted by the regulator.

“You should look at what the writ petition is and then look at your response,” Justice Tahir remarked while addressing the PTA lawyer.

Read: IHC intends to advocate for banning X in February

The court noted that responses had already been submitted by prison authorities, the PTA and other respondents, but questioned how final arguments could be heard when the petitioner’s lawyer had not been allowed to meet with his client.

Salman Akram Raja informed the court that he could not consult Imran Khan on the matter. In response, Justice Tahir observed that once the meeting takes place, the case could proceed to final arguments on February 24.

The government lawyer argued that cases related to the prison meetings were heard by a larger court. Justice Tahir dismissed the delay, noting that without authorizing the meeting, “how will this matter move forward?”

Raja pointed out that the court order dated November 4, directing the prison authorities to allow the meeting, had not been implemented for over two months.

“The order for my meeting is dated November 4 and it has still not been complied with,” Raja said, adding that he has not met the PTI founder even once since the filing of the case. “I have filed a complaint, but I am not allowed to meet with my client.”

When Raja asked him if he should go to the prison that day to get an appointment, Justice Tahir said the court would make an appropriate order. “If the meeting is allowed, this case will move forward,” the judge observed.

The court ordered the government prosecutor to submit a written response and adjourned further hearing until February 24.

Raja speaks to the media

Speaking to reporters outside the Islamabad High Court, Salman Akram Raja linked the legal proceedings to what he described as broader democratic concerns following the February 8 general elections.

February 8 marks the date of Pakistan’s 2024 general elections, which took place after the impeachment of Imran Khan. The day has since taken on political significance, with opposition parties claiming the elections were flawed and did not reflect the public mandate.

“Answers will have to be given to the millions of people who voted on February 8,” Raja said. “We will not allow the warrant to be stolen.”

Learn more: By the numbers: complete results of the February 8 elections

Raja criticized the proposals related to voting age restrictions, calling them an attempt to marginalize young voters. “Reducing the voting age to between 18 and 25 is a conspiracy against the youth,” he said, adding that new voters could not be blamed for past failures in governance.

“Pakistan has not progressed for 78 years. Now the lies and status quo must end,” he said, asserting that efforts to silence politically conscious youth would fail.

Coming back to the legal proceedings, Raja said the contempt petition arose from the continued refusal to meet the PTI founder. “The court order of November 4 has still not been implemented. Meetings with lawyers and family members have been suspended for months,” he said.

“Without consulting lawyers, Imran Khan cannot respond to the complaints filed against him,” Raja added. “PTI is a peaceful and constitutional party. Our struggle will remain within the framework of the Constitution.”