A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the alleged solitary confinement of Bushra Bibi, wife of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan.
Image: Pakistan Today
The petition names the superintendent and deputy superintendent of Adiala Jail, the Inspector General of Prisons Punjab, and the NAB chairman as respondents. It was filed by Mubashara Maneka, who contends that Bushra Bibi is being kept in solitary confinement in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail without legal justification and is also being denied meetings with her family members.
The petitioner argued that under the Pakistan Penal Code and jail rules, such confinement is unlawful and amounts to overreach of authority. She further stated that prison regulations do not allow a prisoner to be kept in solitary confinement for more than 14 days, while prolonged isolation violates basic human dignity as outlined in the United Nations’ Nelson Mandela Rules.
It was also submitted before the court that Bushra Bibi had undergone eye surgery in April and was twice shifted to hospital due to complications. However, her family and legal counsel were allegedly not informed about her medical condition, nor were lawyers permitted to meet her to complete legal formalities, including signing a power of attorney.
The petition urged the court to declare solitary confinement without a judicial order illegal and in violation of Articles 9 and 14 of the Constitution, which guarantee security of person and dignity of man.
