ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has intervened in the ongoing detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, granting his lawyer special access to assess his living conditions in Adiala Jail.
Court Declares Lawyer a “Friend of the Court”
In a significant move, the apex court declared Barrister Salman Safdar, a counsel for the jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, a “friend of the court.” The bench directed that Safdar be given access to Khan’s barracks to prepare a written report on the conditions there. The court deemed it “appropriate” to seek an updated account, noting that a previous report from August 2023 was compiled when Khan was held in Attock jail.
Urgent Report on Health and Detention Conditions
The court has ordered Barrister Safdar to submit his findings by Wednesday. This directive comes amid escalating concerns from Khan’s party and family regarding his health and the standard of his incarceration. The PTI has repeatedly raised alarms, particularly after Khan was diagnosed with a serious eye condition, Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO), and underwent a medical procedure at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
His sons have publicly described the conditions at Adiala Jail as “awful” and “substandard.”
Legal and Political Context
Imran Khan has been imprisoned for over two years, and his detention remains a persistent flashpoint in Pakistani politics. The PTI’s attempts to secure meetings with its founder have often led to protests and clashes. A government prohibition on meetings, which was in place until February 8, had further complicated access.
The Supreme Court’s latest order follows its rejection last week of a request for an immediate meeting without prior notice to the government. The court had earlier conveyed a PTI memorandum on the matter to relevant authorities for consideration.
The hearing has been adjourned until Thursday, when the court will likely review the lawyer’s report on the former prime minister’s jail conditions.
