ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday removed office objections and issued notices to concerned officials in response to a petition filed by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, seeking permission to meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in Adiala Jail.
The petition was heard by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, who directed the Secretary Interior, Punjab’s Home Secretary, the Inspector General of Police, and the Superintendent of Adiala Jail to submit their replies by October 23.
Advocate Ali Bukhari, representing CM Afridi, argued that a meeting with Imran Khan was critical for consultations related to cabinet formation and key administrative decisions in the province. Afridi had earlier written to Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and filed the formal petition after previous requests to federal and Punjab home departments went unanswered.
Initially, the registrar's office had raised objections, stating that the court had already dealt with similar petitions regarding jail meetings with Imran Khan and that protocols and SOPs were already in place. It further argued that PTI officeholders were responsible for preparing weekly visitation lists and that the relevant party officials had not been made respondents in the current petition.
However, Bukhari challenged the validity of these objections, noting that the KP cabinet had not yet been formed, making the requirement of cabinet approval inapplicable in this context.
After considering the arguments, the IHC overruled all objections and accepted the petition for hearing. The court then issued notices to all respondents and adjourned the proceedings until October 23.
The case holds political significance, as it concerns the ability of the KP chief minister to consult with his party's incarcerated leader during a critical governance transition in the province.
