IHC Restores Imran Khan’s Weekly Visits but Bans Post-Meeting Media Talks
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday reinstated two weekly visitation days for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan but imposed restrictions on media interactions following these meetings.
A three-member larger bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan and comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, ruled that only individuals approved by PTI’s designated coordinator, Barrister Salman Akram Raja, would be permitted to meet the former prime minister in Adiala Jail.
The court’s decision sparked immediate controversy among PTI’s legal team. Advocate Faisal Chaudhry strongly opposed the media gag order, declaring it unconstitutional and vowing to challenge it in the Supreme Court. “This order blatantly violates fundamental rights to freedom of speech,” Chaudhry stated, adding that no individual could waive these rights on behalf of others.
Legal Dispute Over Visitation Protocols
The bench was hearing consolidated petitions regarding jail visitation procedures. PTI lawyers argued that established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) allowed family visits on Tuesdays and friends on Thursdays, but the latter had been suspended since December 2023.
Naveed Malik, counsel for Adiala Jail authorities, countered that the schedule was adjusted after Khan’s conviction in January, permitting only Tuesday visits under jail regulations. He cited security concerns and logistical challenges in managing separate visitation days.
Court’s Rationale for Media Restrictions
Justice Ishaq Khan expressed concern over visitors exploiting jail meetings for political messaging, noting that post-visit media statements were fueling unnecessary controversy. “What is the necessity of press talks immediately after meetings?” the court questioned.
The bench ultimately ordered:
1. Restoration of two weekly meetings (family and legal team/friends)
2. Pre-approved visitor lists to be submitted by Raja
3. Strict prohibition on media interactions after visits
4. Separate applications required for children’s visits
PTI’s Divided Response
While Raja accepted the conditions, assuring the court of compliance, Chaudhry rejected the compromise. “No one can bar Imran Khan—Pakistan’s most popular leader—from communicating with the public,” he told *The Express Tribune*, calling the ruling “legally untenable.”
Raja later clarified that the media ban applied only to non-family visitors due to jail authorities’ security apprehensions. “The court has upheld Khan’s right to regular meetings. We’ll now finalize visitor lists,” he stated.
The ruling highlights ongoing tensions between judicial oversight of prison protocols and political leaders’ communication rights, setting the stage for a potential constitutional challenge in higher courts.
