IK, lawyers meeting: SC issues notices to Punjab Home Secy, Supdt of Adiala Jail

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court issued notices to the Punjab Home Secretary and the Superintendent of Adiala Jail in a contempt petition concerning a meeting between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his lawyers at Adiala Jail. A three-member SC bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, on Thursday heard petitions filed by PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and Dr Uzma Khan, the sister of the former prime minister. The bench has issued notice to Advocates Punjab and the Islamabad High Court (IHC), and adjourned the hearing for three weeks. Raja has challenged the October 23, 2025, IHC decision dismissing his contempt petition seeking enforcement of court directions regarding meetings between Imran and his lawyers at Adiala jail. Dr Uzma has filed an appeal against the IHC ruling that declined requests to shift Imran to Shifa International Hospital, allow access to his personal physicians, family members, and counsel, and provide medical information to relatives. Meanwhile, a division bench of the Islamabad High Court, comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif, on Thursday, in the £190 million reference, directed the Advocate General of Islamabad to ensure former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi’s meetings with their counsel within seven days so that legal formalities could be completed. During the proceedings, Imran’s counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, informed the court that despite repeated efforts, he had been unable to meet his clients, who remain incarcerated at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail. Consequently, he could neither obtain instructions nor secure a signed vakalatnama (power of attorney) for the appeals. The counsel informed that the jail authorities had consistently denied him access to the former prime minister. He submitted that the NAB had recently filed an application contending that the petitions seeking suspension of sentence had become infructuous or were no longer maintainable after the main appeals against the conviction had been fixed for hearing. Salman contended that without instructions from his client, he was unable to effectively pursue the matter before the court. Referring to a recent Supreme Court judgment, he maintained that the apex court had granted relief in a similar post-conviction case and that both Imran and Bushra were entitled to seek comparable relief. The counsel further informed that his last meeting with Bushra had taken place in December last year and that all subsequent requests had been declined by the jail authorities. The IHC CJ questioned the absence of the advocate general, observing that the law officer was responsible for ensuring that Imran’s counsel is granted access to incarcerated clients whenever required for court proceedings. During the hearing, Salman suggested that the prosecution had already changed its legal representatives, whereas he remained unable to obtain fresh instructions from his client. “I have no instructions from Imran. He has the right to change his lawyer if he so desires, ” Salman stated. The chief justice recalled that the court had previously intervened to facilitate a meeting between the PTI founder and his lawyers, which had subsequently taken place. Addressing the counsel, CJ Dogar asked whether he possessed a duly signed vakalatnama (power of attorney) authorising him to pursue the appeals. Salman replied that he did not have any and clarified that he had been engaged only in connection with the suspension of the sentence petitions. “The jail authorities have denied me access in a manner that appears aimed at rendering these proceedings time-barred, ” he contended. Expressing concern over the situation, CJ Dogar remarked that the denial of access to legal counsel was unfortunate and could impede the administration of justice. The bench subsequently directed the advocate general of Islamabad to ensure Imran and Bushra’s meetings with their counsel within seven days so that legal formalities, including execution of the vakalatnama (power of attorney) and obtaining instructions, could be completed. The hearing was adjourned until after the meetings take place and the necessary authorisation documents are signed. Imran Khan, imprisoned since Aug 5, 2023, is serving a 14-yearsentence at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail in the £190m case, also known as the Al-Qadir trust case. An accountability court in Islamabad had sentenced Imran and Bushra to 14 and seven years in prison, respectively, on Jan 17, 2025, in the case. Subsequently, both had challenged their convictions before the IHC. According to the case, the couple obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd to legalise Rs50 billion identified and returned to the country by the United Kingdom during the PTI government. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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