Court warns prison director could be forcibly brought if he fails to appear at next hearing
Former first lady Bushra Bibi. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday summoned Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig, warning him that he may be forcibly produced if he fails to appear at the next hearing.
The order was issued during proceedings regarding a petition seeking Bushra Bibi’s access to a personal doctor and permission to visit her family. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir expressed concern over the absence of the superintendent despite previous court orders.
On May 4, the court ordered Baig to rule within two days on an application filed by Bushra’s daughter Bibi regarding medical access and family visits, and to appear in person on May 6.
During the hearing, Islamabad Advocate General Naveed Hayat Malik, appearing in court for the first time since his appointment, asked for more time, arguing that the matter was not urgent. However, the petitioner’s lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, opposed the request, calling the matter “urgent” and alleging that Bushra Bibi’s family had been denied visitation rights.
Raja told the court that the last family meeting was on February 24 and claimed that even routine visits were not facilitated. He also criticized what he described as decisions made “over the phone.”
The attorney general argued that Bushra Bibi, as a convicted prisoner, was being treated in accordance with prison rules and said records of past meetings could be presented. A tense exchange followed, prompting the court to intervene and order that proceedings not be dictated.
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Noting the continued non-compliance with its orders, the court again summoned the commissioner to appear at the next hearing. He also ordered that Bushra Bibi’s daughter be present and requested detailed reports on her state of health and the arrangements for her visits to prison.
The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday.
Imran and Bushra Bibi remain incarcerated in Adiala Prison in Rawalpindi. They were sentenced on December 20, 2025, to 17 years in prison in the Toshakhana-II case, which concerns allegations that the couple illegally kept a Bulgari jewelry set given by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit to Saudi Arabia.
Bushra Bibi was transferred to Adiala Prison on April 17 after a crucial eye operation in Rawalpindi, as concerns over her health continue to reverberate in political circles. According to prison officials, ophthalmologists diagnosed a retinal detachment, a condition that requires immediate intervention.
She was transferred to a private hospital on the evening of April 30, where she underwent pre-operative examinations and later consented to surgery. The procedure was carried out by Prof Dr Nadeem Qureshi with a medical committee, after which she was released after a night and returned to custody.
Concerns about her condition had already increased after a document dated March 28 surfaced online, stating that a doctor at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences had examined her and noted “blurred vision and a black spot in the right eye for the past 11 days.”
