PTI lawyers meet Imran at Adiala jail following IHC orders

AI Summary

Lawyers for imprisoned former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan met him at Adiala jail after the Islamabad High Court ordered access to his legal team. They discussed his pending cases, health, and a possible constitutional amendment; Khan had also recently received follow-up eye treatment at a hospital.

ISLAMABAD: Lawyers representing the PTI met party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday, a day after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued orders allowing the meeting. On Tuesday, the IHC, while hearing appeals filed by Imran and his wife, Bushra Bibi, against their convictions in the £190 million reference, directed authorities to facilitate meetings between Imran and his legal team. PTI lawyer Awais Younus Chaudhry, speaking to Dawn, said Barrister Salman Safdar and Advocate Latif Khosa held a meeting with Imran. “As per orders of the court, the meeting was held to discuss under-trial cases,” Chaudhry said. The lawyers remained at Adiala for four hours and left without speaking to the media or PTI lawyers, Chaudhry said. “As their cell phones are switched off, it’s too early to say whether they were allowed to meet Imran together or separately and for how long,” he said. Later, the party posted a video of Khosa speaking to reporters about the meeting. In the video, a smiling Khosa replied in the affirmative when asked whether Bushra Bibi was also present for the meeting. He said that discussions focused on Imran’s health, the cases against him. Khosa said that details regarding Imran’s health and what he himself saw would be released later. Asked about Imran’s health, the lawyer said that Imran had a “blood pressure problem”. He said that the ex-premier’s blood pressure fluctuated to a “terrifying extent”, but added that he was “completely active and his will was very strong”. Confirming that discussions had also covered a possible 28th constitutional amendment, Khosa said that he would not go into more detail at this time. Asked why the meeting took so long, Khosa laughed and said, “Ask those who allowed the meeting.” He said that the IHC had ordered that the meeting should not be less than an hour long. The meeting took place hours after the ex-premier was again taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) for his eye ailment. According to the hospital, Imran was brought to Pims last night for a medical check-up and follow-up eye treatment. It added that his vital parameters were “normal”, he was clinically “stable” and his general physical examination was “normal”. Imran has been in prison since August 5, 2023, while his wife was arrested on January 17, 2025, in a separate case in which the couple were sentenced. The IHC has allowed Imran twice-a-week meetings — on Tuesdays and Thursdays — with his family, lawyers and other associates. Despite multiple court directives, Imran’s meetings with his family and party leaders have been largely restricted. On Nov 2, Safdar met Imran after a gap of seven months for less than an hour. When he had met Imran in April, months after the ex-premier’s eye condition had surfaced, the Supreme Court had designated Safdar as amicus curiae. However, on Nov 2, he met Imran as his lawyer. PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, speaking to Dawn after the Nov 2 meeting, said that no political issues were discussed as Safdar spoke about the cases and asked about future strategy. When asked about Imran’s health, Akram replied that although health issues were discussed, the PTI would only speak about the legal cases.