ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear on November 5 the National Dialogue Committee’s petition seeking directions for jail authorities to facilitate a meeting between incarcerated former prime minister The petition argued that the denial of visitation rights violates fundamental constitutional guarantees and prison regulations.
The petition, filed under Article 199 of the Constitution, read with Section 561 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, was submitted by National Dialogue Committee (NDC) Chairman Mahmood Baqi Moulvi along with fellow committee members Imran Ismail, Barrister Muhammad Ali Khan Saif and Fawad Ahmed.
The petitioners, all former federal ministers and senior PTI leaders, contended that the jail administration had imposed an “illegal and arbitrary ban” on meetings with the imprisoned couple since their incarceration on August 5, 2023.
The petition asserted that the respondent authorities, including the Federation of Pakistan through the Ministry of Interior, the Punjab Home Department and the superintendent of Central Jail Adiala, had “viciously compromised” the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 9 (right to life and liberty) and 14 (inviolability of dignity) of the Constitution.
According to the petition, meetings with Imran have been banned for almost one year, with authorities imposing restrictions that violate both national laws and international covenants, including the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules.
The petitioners specifically noted that “the family has not been granted access to their imprisoned brother and his wife, hence it is but natural to become extremely worried about his health and security during custody.”
The petition invoked the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, specifically citing provisions that entitle every convicted prisoner to “have an interview with his friends or relatives once a fortnight.”
The petitioners noted that Rule 92 of the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, explicitly provides that “every convicted prisoner is to be allowed a reasonable opportunity to interview his relatives, friends and legal advisers for the purpose of preparing his appeal.”
The petitioners argued that they had filed an application with the jail superintendent seeking an interview with the prisoners, attached as Annexure A to the petition, but had received no positive response from the authorities.
The petitioners maintained that their access request was “in good faith and with no political or personal motive other than promoting peace, constitutionalism, and democratic stability.”
They requested the court to direct the superintendent of Adiala Jail to facilitate a meeting between the National Dialogue Committee delegation and Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, and to fix a suitable time to enable the delegation to assess their health, welfare, and legal safeguards.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026