Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has made it clear that he wishes to remain in Attock Jail, rejecting the proposed move to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. This decision follows a court hearing regarding the cipher case in which Imran Khan is entangled.
During the hearing, Imran Khan informed his lawyer, Salman Safdar, about his desire to stay in Attock Jail and instructed him to withdraw the application requesting the transfer to Adiala Jail. The Islamabad High Court had earlier issued an order to shift Imran Khan to Adiala Jail, a move in line with the standard procedure of holding under-trial prisoners from Punjab in Adiala Jail.
Chief Justice Aamir Farooq of the Islamabad High Court emphasized that Imran Khan, as a former prime minister, deserved better conditions in jail, and his rights should not be violated. The court questioned why an under-trial prisoner was detained in Attock Jail instead of Adiala Jail, in accordance with the law.
Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal assured the court that Imran Khan’s rights would not be violated, emphasizing that he should receive all the entitlements prescribed by jail rules. However, discrepancies emerged regarding Imran Khan’s actual transfer to Adiala Jail, with conflicting reports from PTI lawyers.
In response to the petition regarding Khan’s transfer, the Islamabad High Court issued a written order. The court stated that, following the suspension of Imran Khan’s sentence in the Toshakhana case, he currently held the status of an under-trial prisoner. According to the court order, only convicted criminals from Islamabad could be held in Punjab jails.
Imran Khan had previously received a three-year imprisonment sentence in the Toshakhana case, with the trial court initially ordering his detention in Adiala Jail. However, he was subsequently transferred to Attock Jail due to capacity and security concerns, as recommended by the inspector general of prisons.
The court further noted that after the suspension of the Toshakhana sentence, Khan was re-arrested in the cipher case. The Punjab additional advocate general expressed concerns about the security risks associated with transferring him back to Adiala Jail.
Read more: IHC directs authorities to shift Imran to Adiala Jail
In line with the written order, under-trial prisoners from all cases in Islamabad are traditionally held in Adiala Jail, while convicted prisoners can be transferred to Punjab jails. Given his status as a former prime minister, the court acknowledged that Khan was entitled to better conditions in jail.
The situation surrounding Imran Khan’s incarceration remains fluid, with ongoing discussions and legal proceedings. As the case unfolds, Khan’s supporters and critics alike are watching closely to see how the situation will ultimately be resolved.
