ISLAMABAD:
As Adiala jail authorities again denied permission to PTI leaders to meet party founder Imran Khan on Thursday, the government defended medical treatment provided to the incarcerated couple.
Responding to a point of order raised by PTI Parliamentary Leader in Senate Ali Zafar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs RanaSanaullah Khan informed the upper house of parliament that the PTI founder his spouse Bushra Bibi were in judicial custody and all matters related to their custody and facilities were being dealt with in accordance with court orders and jail rules.
He said Bushra Bibi and PTI founder had been convicted by courts and were currently in judicial custody.
He said the matter regarding custodial conditions had already been discussed in the higher judiciary, including the Islamabad High Court and Supreme Court.
Sanaullah said senior lawyer Salman Safdar had earlier been appointed as a friend of the court and had visited the jail before submitting a report regarding the living conditions and facilities available to the PTI founder.
He said that the report submitted by Salman Safdar matched the report provided by the jail superintendent regarding facilities and living conditions in custody.
The adviser said Bushra Bibi was also in judicial custody and if there were any health-related issues, it was the responsibility of jail authorities and relevant institutions to ensure her treatment.
He said whenever required, she had been shifted to hospital and provided medical treatment, adding that there was no negligence regarding her healthcare.
Sanaullah said if the opposition wanted further facilities or arrangements regarding judicial custody, the appropriate forum was the court, which could issue relevant directions.
He suggested that Senator Ali Zafar could also approach the court on the matter and review all reports and details related to the custody conditions.
Meanwhile, PTI leaders, including Khurram Virk, Naseem Ali Shah, Zahir Shah, Rajab Abbasi, Zar Aalam and Rubina Shaheen, reached Adiala jail but were not allowed to meet Imran Khan until the end of visiting hours.
Zahir, talking to the media, said that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had announced preparations for the final round of the movement against the imprisonment of the PTI founder.
He said that as soon as directions were received from the party founder, the movement would move forward, adding that the struggle had not yet ended.
“Obstacles are deliberately created, resulting in serious damage to the judiciary, and that is why court orders to arrange a meeting with Imran Khan are not being implemented,” Zahir said.
Meanwhile, PTI expressed grave concern and outrage over reports that Bushra Bibi was suddenly and secretly taken to a hospital in the middle of the night and then returned to jail without informing her family, lawyers or the party.
In a statement, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said it was deeply regrettable that a female prisoner, who was also the wife of a former prime minister, was being deprived of basic human and medical rights despite her health condition deteriorating with each passing day.
