ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC), Wednesday, accepted founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi’s petition seeking her transfer from Bani Gala sub-jail to Adiala Jail.
A single bench of Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict which he had earlier reserved after hearing the petition moved by Bushra through her counsel Usman Riaz Gill.
The IHC bench also termed the notification null and void that declared Bushra Bibi’s residence Bani Gala as a sub-jail.
The high court reserved the verdict last week after the completion of arguments of both sides.
During the previous hearing, the court said that the superintendent jail had relayed that they could not accommodate Bushra Bibi as the jail was already overcrowded and due to security issues.
The Accountability Court, Islamabad, on January 31, sentenced the former premier and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 years in jail in Toshakhana reference. Following the conviction, the former first lady was detained in Bani Gala instead of Adiala Jail.
However, Bushra had challenged the authorities’ move to imprison her at Bani Gala to serve a 14-year sentence in the case on February 6.
In her petition, Bushra Bibi urged the court to direct the authorities to transfer her from Bani Gala, which was declared sub-jail, to Adiala Jail.
Then, Adiala Jail superintendent submitted a report in the court and informed the bench about the reasons behind keeping Bushra Bibi at Bani Gala. The report of jail authorities stated that Adiala jail is short of space and has 250 women incarcerated in the premises. It added that therefore, shifting of Bushra Bibi from Bani Gala to Adiala Jail was not feasible.
The report outlined that the logistical constraints and security considerations made it impractical to accommodate Bushra Bibi at Adiala Jail.
In her petition, she prayed to the IHC to set aside the January 31 notification, issued by the Office of Chief Commissioner, Islamabad, at the request of the jail superintendent, declaring Imran’s residence as a sub-jail for Bushra Bibi. The petition mentioned that no such request was made by Bushra in this regard, and she wished to spend her detention at Adiala Jail. She cited Islamabad’s chief commissioner, Adiala Jail superintendent, Inspector General of Police, Punjab prisons and the state as respondents in the case.
Bushra further mentioned that all citizens are equal in eyes of law, stating that other political workers are in jails with ordinary prisoners.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
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