ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday declared petitions challenging the alleged solitary confinement of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi maintainable and also directed Adiala jail authorities to ensure that neither was kept in solitary confinement.

IHC’s Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro announced the verdict, which had been reserved on Aug 6, and held that the petitions were maintainable in light of the principles laid down in the Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Begum Shamim Afridi cases.

The court also directed jail authorities to facilitate a meeting between Imran and Bushra in accordance with prison rules.

It further ordered that Imran’s family members be allowed to meet him as permitted under the jail rules and directed authorities to make arrangements for phone calls between him and his sons.

At the same time, the court directed that phone calls be withdrawn if the recordings of these conversations were being used for political purposes.