ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has ordered authorities to present former Prime Minister Imran Khan before the court by 3 p.m. on Thursday.
Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq warned that if the government fails to produce Khan, it must provide a valid justification for his absence. The court directed the superintendent of Adiala Jail, where Khan is currently detained, to ensure his appearance, stressing that any security concerns cited by the government must be adequately addressed.
Justice Ishaq also questioned a notification presented by the Punjab government, noting that it only covered the period from October 21 to 25, and demanded to see the earlier notification as well.
The court instructed the Ministry of Interior to submit a report outlining any security threats to Khan. The Punjab government’s counsel stated that restrictions on Khan were imposed after October 3 due to security concerns.
Additionally, the government has extended the ban on meetings at Adiala Jail for an indefinite period.
Meanwhile, More than 60 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to leverage Washington’s influence with Islamabad to secure the release of Imran Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 after being convicted in the Toshakhana case, along with facing other charges ahead of the upcoming elections on February 8, 2024. He has consistently denied these allegations.
In their letter, the Democratic lawmakers emphasized the need for the Biden administration to prioritize human rights in its dealings with Pakistan. They wrote, “We urge you to use the United States’ substantial leverage with Pakistan’s government to secure the release of political prisoners, including former Prime Minister Khan, and to address widespread human rights abuses.”
The lawmakers also called for U.S. embassy officials to be granted access to Khan, who is currently held at Adiala Jail. This collective appeal marks a significant moment, as it is the first time multiple members of Congress have formally called for Khan’s release, despite his historically tense relationship with Washington, due to his criticism of U.S. foreign policy.
U.S. Representative Greg Casar, who spearheaded the letter, highlighted that after Khan’s ouster through a no-confidence vote in 2022, numerous legal cases were filed against him.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
