https://arab.news/4286r
- Restriction was imposed by Punjab provincial administration on October 4, citing security reasons
- Khan’s lawyers moved the court on Thursday, which ordered authorities to facilitate their meeting
ISLAMABAD: The government has lifted a temporary restriction on prisoner visits at Central Jail Rawalpindi, commonly known as Adiala Prison, following resistance from the legal team defending former prime minister Imran Khan, who is incarcerated there, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party confirmed on Saturday.
The restriction was imposed by the Punjab provincial administration on October 4, citing security concerns ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in the federal capital, which hosted top government officials from several regional states on October 15 and 16.
Due to the trust deficit between the government and opposition, the restriction, which applied to all inmates, raised concerns about the ex-premier’s health. PTI leaders threatened to march on Islamabad unless Khan’s medical team and lawyers were granted access to him in prison.
PTI lawyers also moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday, prompting a judge to order the government to facilitate a meeting between Khan and his legal team, which took place later that day.
“Jail authorities have lifted a ban on meeting with prisoners in Adiala Prison, Rawalpindi,” the party said in a brief message to the media. “Ban was imposed on Oct 4, citing security concerns and lifted today, Oct 26.”
“IHC judge, Justice Sardar Ijaz had ordered to submit concrete evidence on possible security concerns during the hearing of a petition challenging ban on meetings with the Former Prime Minister Imran Khan,” it added. “So far, the authorities have not given a reply. However, the ban is now lifted and hopefully schedule of meeting with Imran Khan will resume.”
Khan’s party members had a brief meeting with him while the restriction was in place to discuss the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which the government passed earlier this week on Monday.
Pakistani authorities also conducted drills at the prison facility recently to prepare for potential militant attacks.