Attock, Pakistan – In response to concerns raised by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan about his living conditions in Attock Jail, the Punjab Prisons Department (PPD) has constructed a new washroom equipped with privacy features. The new facility includes five-foot-high walls and a door to ensure the former prime minister’s privacy.
The clarification from the PPD spokesperson follows a visit by Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Shafquat Ullah Khan to Imran Khan’s cell. The judge acknowledged Khan’s complaints about the lack of privacy in the washroom and deemed them to be legitimate concerns.
According to the statement issued by the PPD spokesperson, Imran Khan has been provided with all the facilities outlined in rules 257 and 771 of the Pakistan Prisons Rules, 1978. Notably, the spokesperson addressed the privacy issues by revealing the construction of a new washroom inside Khan’s cell. The washroom boasts five-foot-high walls and a door, ensuring a private space for personal use. Furthermore, the facility includes a western-style commode and a wash basin.
Imran Khan is currently serving a three-year sentence in Attock Jail after being convicted of corrupt practices in the Toshakhana case earlier this month. The judge’s observations from his visit revealed that Khan expressed serious concerns about his privacy being violated due to a CCTV camera positioned in front of his prison bars, covering an open bathroom-cum-latrine area.
The PPD spokesperson clarified that CCTV cameras were installed outside Imran Khan’s room as part of security measures. In fact, more than 4,000 CCTV cameras have been installed across various jails in Punjab to enhance security.
The spokesperson also highlighted the amenities provided to Khan, including bath soap, perfume, air freshener, towels, tissue papers, a bed, pillows, mattresses, tables, chairs, air conditioners, and exhaust fans. The spokesperson emphasized that Khan’s medical needs were being attended to by five appointed doctors, with one doctor available at all times. The PTI chief also receives specialized food after medical clearance.
Addressing concerns about visitation rights, the spokesperson clarified that Khan’s family can meet him on Tuesdays, while his lawyers can visit him on Thursdays. Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, had recently expressed concerns about her husband’s safety and requested his transfer to a different prison due to fears of poisoning.
In light of these developments, the PTI Core Committee echoed the concerns raised by the judge’s observations, emphasizing the need for humane treatment of Imran Khan during his incarceration.
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Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti assured that Imran Khan is being provided with facilities according to his prison class. He stated that relevant laws would be followed to ensure that the PTI chief’s entitlements are met. He also pledged to address other concerns raised in the inspection report, such as the placement of CCTV cameras.
As Imran Khan’s prison conditions receive increased attention, the Punjab Prisons Department remains committed to ensuring that his rights and well-being are safeguarded in accordance with the law.
