ISLAMABAD:
As Adiala jail authorities again denied PTI leaders permission to meet party founder Imran Khan on Thursday, the government defended medical treatment for the jailed couple.
Responding to a point of order made by PTI’s Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Ali Zafar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs RanaSanaullah Khan informed the Upper House of Parliament that the PTI founder, his spouse Bushra Bibi, was in custody and that all matters related to their custody and prison arrangements were being dealt with in accordance with court orders.
He said that Bushra Bibi and the PTI founder had been convicted by the courts and were currently in custody.
He said the issue of custodial conditions had already been discussed in the higher judiciary, including the Islamabad High Court and the Supreme Court.
Sanaullah said senior advocate Salman Safdar had earlier been appointed as a friend of the court and had visited the jail before submitting a report on the living conditions and facilities of the PTI founder.
He said the report of Salman Safdar was consistent with the report of the Inspector General of Prisons regarding facilities and living conditions in the remand prison.
The adviser said that Bushra Bibi was also in custody and if there were any health-related problems, it was the responsibility of the prison authorities and relevant institutions to ensure her treatment.
He said when necessary she had been taken to hospital and given medical treatment, adding that there was no negligence in her healthcare.
Sanaullah said that if the opposition wanted additional facilities or arrangements regarding judicial custody, the proper forum was the court which could issue relevant directions.
He suggested that Senator Ali Zafar could also approach the court in the matter and go through all the reports and details related to the custody conditions.
Meanwhile, PTI leaders including Khurram Virk, Naseem Ali Shah, Zahir Shah, Rajab Abbasi, Zar Aalam and Rubina Shaheen reached Adiala jail but were not allowed to meet Imran Khan before the end of visiting hours.
Zahir, speaking to the media, said that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had announced the preparations for the final round of the movement against the imprisonment of the PTI founder.
He said that as soon as directions were received from the party founder, the movement would move forward, adding that the struggle was not over yet.
“Obstacles have been deliberately created, resulting in serious damage to the judiciary, which is why court orders to arrange a meeting with Imran Khan are not being implemented,” Zahir said.
Meanwhile, PTI expressed grave concern and outrage over reports that Bushra Bibi was suddenly and secretly taken to a hospital in the middle of the night and then returned to jail without informing her family, lawyers or the party.
In a statement, PTI’s Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said it was deeply regrettable that a female prisoner, who was also the wife of a former prime minister, was deprived of basic human and medical rights despite her health condition deteriorating with each passing day.
