Islamabad: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have submitted separate judicial applications for better facilities in prison.
Mr. Khan’s legal team, which includes the defenders of Zaheer Abbas, Chaudhry Usman Riaz Gill and Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry, submitted the request before the special central judge, Islamabad.
Khan, 73, asked the Court to order the penitentiary authorities to allow them audio/video weekly with their children, Qasim and Suleman Khan, who reside in the United Kingdom.
He cited the rules of Punjab prison, which entitled the inmates to weekly communication with the family.
Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023, claimed that prison officials have repeatedly ignored judicial orders (dated November 8, 2024 and January 10, 2025) who demand telephone contact with their children.
The prison has a public call office system (PCO) installed by the Government that allows inmates called weekly 20 minutes, however, Khan declared that even the calls of EID 2025 were denied.
This was a violation of the fundamental rights of Mr. Khan and constituted discrimination, the petition said, adding that other inmates regularly access the installation.
In a parallel request presented in the Superior Court of Islamabad (IHC), Mr. Khan’s wife challenged the refusal of the prison department to classify it under the category of ‘Best Class’ according to the Rules of Prison 1978.
Mrs. Bushra said that her husband had already been granted status, which was entitled prisoners for improved comforts based on social position.
Mrs. Bushra, convicted in a case of responsibility related to the corruption of 190 MN and imprisoned since January 17, 2025, said that her repeated requests to the Superintendent of the prison were ignored.
The petition, presented under article 199 of the Constitution, accused the authorities of “exercise of colorable power” and demanded compliance with prison regulations.
A third application focused on the health of Mr. Khan. The former prime minister, who has a history of medical problems, has sought regular checks of his personal doctors, Dr. Likewise Yusaf, Dr. Samina Niazi and Dr. Muhammad Aasim Yusuf (replaced by Dr. Faisal Sultan, who is abroad).
The plea referred to an IHC order dated October 23, 2024, addressing the Institute of Medical Sciences of Pakistan (Pims) that forms a medical board, including private doctors.
Mr. Khan’s lawyers argued that irregular health exams would endanger the health of their clients, which would be a violation of constitutional rights under article 9 (right to life).
Posted in Dawn, April 8, 2025
