Aleema Khanum, sister of former prime minister Imran Khan, has filed a writ petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the prolonged solitary confinement and incommunicado detention of her brother at Adiala Jail, arguing that the conditions are illegal and unconstitutional.
Petition Challenges Detention Conditions
The petition, filed under Article 199 of the Constitution, was submitted through a legal team led by Barrister Salman Safdar and Advocate Salman Akram Raja. It names the superintendent and deputy superintendent of Adiala Jail, the Punjab inspector general of prisons, the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the medical superintendent of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), and the state as respondents.
Legal Grounds Against Solitary Confinement
The petition argues that solitary confinement can only be imposed when expressly awarded by a court, and even then, for no more than 14 days at a stretch. It contends that the current detention violates constitutional protections against inhumane treatment and deprives the former prime minister of his right to communicate with family and legal counsel.
Broader Implications
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of high-profile detainees in Pakistan. Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 on multiple charges, and his sister's petition seeks to establish legal precedents regarding the limits of solitary confinement and the right to family visits.
