IHC dismisses Bushra’s plea seeking transfer to Adiala jail

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday dismissed Bushra Bibi’s, wife of former prime minister Imran Khan, plea seeking transfer from Banigala to Adiala jail — where she is incarcerated following her conviction in the Toshakhana case after the residence was declared sub-jail by authorities.

“Why Bushra’s lawyer did not appear in the court? ... She would have been transferred to the Adiala [jail] as per her wish if he [her lawyer] had won the case,” Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb said during the hearing of the former first lady’s petition.

In February, Bushra, citing security and safety reasons, had moved the court for her transfer to the Adiala facility, where her husband is also imprisoned, saying that “she was ready and willing to serve her sentence in the ordinary jail premises at Adiala jail, rather than the declared sub-jail at her residence”.

“While the petitioner is in good health currently, however, there has been a movement of unidentified people in the house declared sub-jail by the government, thereby, contributing to the sense of insecurity,” the petition read.

During the hearing on Tuesday, Justice Aurangzeb lamented the absence and non-compliance of the former first lady’s counsel and questioned whether the applicants actually wanted the relief that they sought in the first place.

“[They] are doing politics with the court,” the judge said, adding that the lawyers failed to appear before the court even though they were told that the court would decide the matter after hearing the arguments.

“Shoaib Shaheen came [to court but] left and didn’t come back,” he noted.

Speaking during the hearing, the state counsel apprised the court that the authorities had arranged a meeting between Imran Khan and his wife during the Eid-ul-Fitr.

Later on, Bushra’s lawyers, including Usman Riaz Gill, did manage to reach the court and cited security barricades and checkpoints for their delayed arrival.

“We have dismissed your plea on non-compliance. However, you can file an application for the case to be reinstated,” Justice Aurangzeb said to Gill.

To this, the petitioner’s lawyer said that they will be submitting a plea for reinstatement of their petition shortly.