ISLAMABAD:
As Adiala jail authorities on Thursday again denied permission to PTI leaders to meet party founder Imran Khan, the government defended the medical treatment provided to the incarcerated couple.
Responding to a point of order raised by PTI Parliamentary Leader in the Senate, Ali Zafar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs, RanaSanaullah Khan, informed the upper house of parliament that PTI founder, his wife Bushra Bibi, were in judicial custody and all matters related to their custody and facilities were being dealt with in accordance with court orders and jail rules.
He said Bushra Bibi and the PTI founder were found guilty by the courts and were currently in judicial custody.
He said the issue of detention conditions had already been discussed in the higher judiciary, including the High Court and the Islamabad Supreme Court.
Sanaullah said senior advocate Salman Safdar had already been made a friend of the court and had visited the jail before submitting a report on the living conditions and facilities available to the PTI founder.
He said the report submitted by Salman Safdar matched the report provided by the prison superintendent regarding the facilities and living conditions in custody.
The advisor said Bushra Bibi was also in judicial custody and in case of health problems, it was the responsibility of the prison authorities and relevant institutions to ensure his treatment.
He said whenever necessary, she was transferred to hospital and given medical treatment, adding that there was no negligence regarding her health care.
Sanaullah said if the opposition wanted more facilities or arrangements regarding judicial custody, the appropriate forum was the court, which could issue relevant directions.
He suggested that Senator Ali Zafar could also approach the court on this matter and examine all the reports and details related to the conditions of detention.
Meanwhile, PTI leaders including Khurram Virk, Naseem Ali Shah, Zahir Shah, Rajab Abbasi, Zar Aalam and Rubina Shaheen reached Adiala jail but were not allowed to meet Imran Khan before the visiting hours ended.
Zahir, speaking to the media, said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced preparations for the latest round of the movement against the imprisonment of the PTI founder.
He said as soon as instructions were received from the party founder, the movement would move forward, adding that the struggle was not over yet.
“Hinderances are being deliberately created, leading to serious damage to the justice system, and that is why court orders to arrange a meeting with Imran Khan are not being implemented,” Zahir said.
Meanwhile, the PTI has expressed deep concern and outrage over reports that Bushra Bibi was suddenly and secretly taken to hospital in the middle of the night and then sent back to prison without informing her family, lawyers or the party.
In a statement, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said it was deeply regrettable that a prisoner, who was also the wife of a former prime minister, was deprived of her basic human and medical rights despite her health condition deteriorating day by day.
