ISLAMABAD: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), called upon Punjab authorities to transfer party founder Imran Khan, currently detained in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, amidst a two-week ban on public visits and meetings with the former Prime Minister citing security threats.
Adviser to KP Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, issued a statement urging the Punjab government to transfer Khan to KP’s custody if it couldn’t ensure his security while incarcerated.
Last week, Khan was prohibited from conducting meetings within Adiala Jail for a fortnight. The Punjab Home Department issued a notification restricting all forms of visits, meetings, and interviews in Adiala Jail due to security concerns.
The Punjab government clarified that the restrictions weren’t intended to obstruct PTI leaders from meeting their founder.
Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bukhari said that the measures were prompted by a serious security alert, following the arrest of individuals found with a map of the jail where Khan is held.
However, PTI leadership viewed these measures as a deliberate attempt to obstruct their access to the party’s founder.
In response to the jail visit ban, Barrister Saif criticized the blanket restrictions, highlighting the difficulties faced by all prisoners due to purported “security concerns”.
He criticized the Maryam Nawaz-led provincial government, urging Punjab authorities to transfer prisoners to KP instead of inflicting unnecessary hardship due to their perceived incompetence and fear of Khan.
Punjab Information Minister Bukhari responded to Saif’s critique, assuring that both Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, along with other inmates in provincial jails, were secure.
