TTAP criticizes ‘systematic effort to deprive’ Imran Khan of legal rights

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court on Monday directed the Adiala Jail Superintendent to submit a reply regarding the refusal to accept Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder (PTI) Imran Khan’s signature on a power of attorney.

Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro presided over the hearing on a petition filed by Imran’s lawyer Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry. Justice Soomro inquired about the legal procedure involved in the case, to which Chaudhry explained that a legal process was in place, citing the jail policy and a precedent set by the Lahore High Court.

He also highlighted that prison rules regarding access to prisoners were well defined, citing the Nelson Mandela International Rules of Prisoners’ Rights.

Chaudhry informed the court that despite several visits to the Adiala jail and after sending the documents through couriers, the power of attorney documents were not accepted and in the latter case the jail authorities claimed never to have received them.

The hearing was adjourned to May 25, whereupon the court issued a notice to the prison inspector directing him to respond before then.

The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aain Pakistan wrote on X that efforts to strip Imran of his legal and constitutional rights were part of a “systematic effort” to strip him of his rights.

It further said the repeated refusals to accept power of attorney documents and denial of access to legal advice were part of a larger campaign of political revenge.

“Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry visited Adiala Jail on March 27, April 2 and April 3 to get signatures of Imran Khan on power of attorney documents, but the jail authorities refused to accept the documents at all.”

The statement also reiterated that despite these efforts, “Imran Khan has never bowed and he never will,” asserting that the power of the constitution, the law and the people would ultimately triumph over injustice.

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“First the arrests, then fake cases, then restrictions on meetings and now efforts to block even legal documents – all this serves as proof that the chain of political revenge against Imran Khan continues to this day.”