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ISLAMABAD: The National Dialogue Committee (NDC) has approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking directives for jail authorities to facilitate a meeting with incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, arguing that the denial of visitation rights violates fundamental constitutional guarantees and prison regulations.
The petition, filed under Article 199 of the Constitution, read with Section 561 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, was submitted by NDC Chairman Mahmood Baqi Molvi along with fellow committee members Imran Ismail, Barrister Muhammad Ali Khan Saif and Fawad Ahmed.
The petitioners, all former federal ministers and senior PTI leaders, contend that the jail administration has imposed an “illegal and arbitrary ban” on meetings with the imprisoned couple since their incarceration on August 5, 2023.
The petition asserts that the respondent authorities, including the Federation of Pakistan through the Ministry of Interior, the Punjab Home Department, and the superintendent of Central Jail Adiala, have “viciously compromised” the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 9 (right to life and liberty) and Article 14 (inviolability of dignity) of the Constitution.
