IHC seeks prison chief’s comments on plea for Imran’s security

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed the prison superintendent to submit his reply to a plea seeking the provision of home-made food and security to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan in prison.

The direction came during a hearing of a petition filed by Khan’s spouse Bushra Bibi, who sought protection of her spouse, expressing the fear that he might be given poison in prison.

The additional advocate general informed the court that the PTI chief had been provided facilities as per the jail manual. The petitioner’s counsel, Latif Khosa, submitted that the court had already reserved orders in identical cases, and if those verdicts were announced then there would be no need for fresh petitions.

He said the jail authorities provided facilities to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif during his incarceration in prison and the same facilities should be provided to other prisoners, as like that of Nawaz Sharif the sentence of Imran Khan had been also suspended by the court.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq observed that a division bench had already given its order on an identical petition of Sher Afzal Marwat’s plea. He sought comments from the jail superintendent on whether or not the court order was being complied with.

Khosa said the court had earlier issued notices to the respondents after the October 5 hearing, but no steps had been taken to provide security to the PTI chief in prison.