The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the authorities at Adiala Jail to provide a comprehensive report and prison records in response to petitions alleging that the PTI founder and his wife, Bushra Bibi, are being held in solitary confinement. The directive came during a hearing presided over by Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro.
Court Seeks Clarification on Solitary Confinement
Justice Soomro instructed the superintendent of Adiala Jail to clarify whether the two prisoners are indeed being kept in solitary confinement. If so, the court demanded details on the legal provisions under which the measure was imposed, the circumstances leading to it, the duration of the confinement, and whether it was a disciplinary punishment. The court also ordered the jail authorities to provide information on the current conditions of detention, the facilities available to the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi, and their response to the allegations raised in the petitions.
Determination of Maintainability
The IHC observed that it would first determine the maintainability of the petitions after reviewing the submitted reports and supporting documents. The merits of the case would be examined only after the complete record is presented. The court further directed the jail superintendent to produce the prisoners' records, register entries, and other relevant documents at the next hearing.
Additionally, the Inspector General of Prisons was instructed to ensure the appearance of a senior prison official fully acquainted with the facts of the case. Notices were issued to all parties, and the court ordered the submission of the required reports by August 6.
