On Thursday, the federal government strongly refuted allegations that it is obstructing access to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan by his lawyers and family. Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated at Adiala Jail, made these claims during a Supreme Court hearing regarding amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law. He stated that he was being held in solitary confinement without access to necessary materials or legal counsel.
In response, the government submitted a detailed document to the Supreme Court, including photographs of Khan meeting with his legal team in prison. This evidence aimed to counter the allegations, demonstrating that Khan is not in solitary confinement and has been receiving visits from multiple individuals, including his legal team.
The government also provided a comprehensive list of people who have met with Khan, further supporting their stance. To ensure the credibility of their claims, the government suggested that a commission could be appointed to verify the facts.
During the hearing, Imran Khan informed Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa that he was being denied meetings with his legal team and was kept in solitary confinement. He expressed his frustration, saying, “They (jail authorities) do not let me meet my legal team. I am being kept in solitary confinement here. I neither have any material nor a library to prepare for the case.”
The pictures shared with the court depicted Khan with several facilities that a common prisoner would not typically have. As a former Prime Minister, Khan has been provided with amenities such as an exercise bike, a stretching belt for physical fitness, a collection of books, a separate kitchen with a special menu, an exclusive gallery for walking, an LED television, a room cooler, and a study table.
In the detailed document, the government included photos of all the facilities provided to Khan and the names of individuals who have visited him. The document emphasized that Khan has been afforded all necessary facilities in jail.
The government stated, “…if this Court may deem appropriate and necessary, it may appoint a judicial officer in the form of a commission to verify the facts as submitted before this Court.”
The submission concluded with a respectful request: “It is, therefore, respectfully prayed that the instant application be allowed and the additional documents be placed before this Court for the record.”
