Leaders will be able to hold election related meetings with Imran Khan in jail, court gives permission

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) allowed PTI leaders and lawyers to meet former Prime Minister Imran Khan lodged in Adiala jail and hold campaign meetings for the February 8 elections. The order was passed by Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb on a petition filed by Imran seeking a meeting with party members Asad Qaiser, Junaid Akbar Khan, Senator Aurangzeb Khan and Dost Mohammad Khan and Ishtiaq Meherban, among others, to chalk out the future strategy. Permission was sought.

The plea also requested the court to direct the superintendent of Adiala jail to ensure confidentiality for Imran during his consultation with his legal team. With the release of the election programme, election related activities have started in the camps of major political parties. The election program is going on in full swing with the end of the last date for filing nomination papers on Sunday. The returning officer will scrutinize the nomination papers from December 25 to December 30. Earlier, PTI Chairman Gauhar Khan had said that the decision on allotting tickets would still be taken by Imran. Meanwhile, Barrister Ali Zafar had said that jailed PTI workers would be given priority when it came to allotment of tickets.

Attorney-General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan, PTI lawyer and Adiala Jail superintendent appeared before the IHC. Initially PTI’s lawyer Shoaib Shaheen said the party needed to discuss the allotment of 700 tickets, while the AGP objected to the maintainability of the petition. Justice Aurangzeb expressed displeasure at Awan’s arguments and asked: Is the Supreme Court’s additional note insufficient for you? Do you want me to write a note against you too? He passed these observations in the context of Justice Athar Minallah’s additional note in the Sifar case.