Court throws out ban on political discussions in jail

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday ordered the lifting of a ban on political discussions by jail inmates during meetings, terming it in contravention of the constitution of Pakistan.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat had filed a plea challenging the ban on political discussion among and with inmates, especially political prisoners.

IHC judge Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan struck down the ban imposed on political talks among jail inmates.

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The verdict highlighted that a “blanket ban” on political discussion with jail inmates was contradictory to the sections of “association and freedom of expression” guaranteed in the constitution.

On April 25, the National Accountability Bureau refrained PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi from speaking against state institutions.

The NAB had said that the media as a strong pillar should not carry statements of such political inmates that target the state institutions.