Babar Awan. PHOTO: RASHID AJMERI / EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Senior lawyer Babar Awan has warned that if the “repression” against PTI founder Imran Khan continues, his sons are likely to return to the country.
He added that they have already applied for visas to come back.
“There is concern regarding the sons that if [their] communication is allowed [with Imran Khan]can they return. I share this concern. If these injustices continue, they will definitely come back,” Awan said.
The senior lawyer was speaking to media outside the Islamabad High Court.
He clarified that PTI founder’s sons are not involved in politics. “According to the law, they must be allowed to speak to their father at least once a week, but months have passed without any communication,” he noted.
Criticizing statements by two federal ministers who claimed that the PTI founder would not be allowed to meet anyone before February 8, Awan said they had no legal authority to issue such directives. “Under the law, this amounts to two offenses – exceeding authority and violating the constitution,” he said.
He explained that only the court which sends a prisoner to prison and the prison authorities have the legal right to regulate or allow visits. “No one else has this authority. On what basis have these ministers blocked meetings?” he asked.
Referring to the jail time of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, Awan said they had meetings inside jail cells, with “50 visitors” allowed at a time under NAB’s custody. “The only fear seems to be of the PTI founder,” Awan said.
