The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed authorities to present former Prime Minister Imran Khan via video link today at 2 PM. If the video link option is not used, the court has instructed that Khan be presented in person by 3 PM.
Earlier, Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan issued orders for the Superintendent of Adiala Jail to meet with Imran Khan and bring him to court. The court had previously summoned the Superintendent of Adiala Jail at 12 PM in connection with the case involving PTI leader Mashal Yousafzai, who was denied a meeting with Imran Khan. The court asked the jail authorities to confirm whether Mashal Yousafzai was acting as the PTI founder’s lawyer.
The court emphasised that the failure to adhere to the earlier order, which was agreed upon during the last hearing, would result in strict action.
Justice Khan noted that the court expected the jail authorities to comply with the order and remarked that the jail authorities appeared to have committed contempt of court.
A list was presented to the court, allegedly from Imran Khan, but the court expressed dissatisfaction with it and said it may directly question the PTI founder. The court then adjourned the hearing until 12 PM.
After the break, the hearing resumed, and the court issued a final order for Imran Khan to be presented via video link at 2 PM. If the video link was not arranged, the court directed that Khan be presented in person by 3 PM.
The Inspector General of Islamabad was instructed to ensure proper arrangements for the presentation of the PTI founder in court.
During the hearing, Advocate Shoaib Shaheen informed the court that political leaders had not been able to meet for the past five months.
The court also inquired about the reasons behind the delay in arranging the meeting between Mashal Yousafzai and Imran Khan. Jail Superintendent Abdul Ghafur Anjum explained that he had been out of town, but the court questioned why the meeting had not been arranged last Friday.
Anjum further stated that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi had communicated that Mashal Yousafzai was not their lawyer or focal person.
The court has directed the jail authorities to ensure the presentation of Imran Khan as per the orders, either through a video link or in person, and emphasized that any non-compliance will lead to legal consequences.