Adiala jail chief denies Bushra Bibi’s meeting with family, private doctor: court told

RAWALPINDI: The Adiala jail superintendent told the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday that a request for family and personal doctor meetings with Bushra Bibi, the wife of former prime minister Imran Khan, had been declined due to concerns over political discussions following prison visits.

The Adiala jail superintendent submitted a written reply to the court stating that conversations held after jail meetings were being used for political discourse outside the prison.

He specifically referred to social media posts made after family visits, saying such activity raised security and administrative concerns.

IHC Judge Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the case on a plea filed by Bushra Bibi’s daughter, seeking permission for family meetings, access to a personal physician and provision of essential items.

During proceedings, the jail superintendent said that meetings at Adiala jail were being regulated under prison rules and that no immediate permission for the requested visits had been granted.

Islamabad Advocate General Naveed Hayat Malik also appeared before the court.

The petitioner’s counsel, Salman Akram Raja, argued that the justification for denying meetings was based on social media posts allegedly made by a third party, questioning the legal basis for restricting access.

He said that Bushra Bibi’s sister had not visited the jail, and argued that a third person’s online posts could not be used to bar meetings with a daughter.

The court observed that the matter required careful examination and asked the advocate general to consider obtaining an undertaking on the issue.

Officials told the court that Adiala jail currently houses around 7,200 inmates and that visit schedules are arranged according to the nature of offences, with meetings held six days a week under a prison management system.

The jail superintendent said that all visits were conducted in accordance with the prison manual through a formal monitoring system.

Justice Tahir remarked that the system appeared structured and said the court wanted to understand its procedures in detail before issuing a final decision.

He said that authorities should ensure fairness and compliance with prison rules while avoiding hasty conclusions.

The court also directed that arrangements be made, where possible, for a meeting between Bushra Bibi and her daughter.

The hearing was adjourned until May 14.

Earlier, the IHC had summoned the Adiala jail superintendent to appear in person on a plea seeking access to a private doctor and family meetings for Bushra Bibi.