Tag: Adiala Jail

  • ‘Nawaz Sharif cannot play without his own umpires’: Imran Khan

    ‘Nawaz Sharif cannot play without his own umpires’: Imran Khan

    The legal saga surrounding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s jail trial and the controversial cipher case took center stage in Islamabad this week.

    On Tuesday, three witnesses provided their testimonies against the PTI chief and his party’s Vice Chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

    Judge Zulqarnain presided over the proceedings at Adiala jail under the special Official Secrets Act court. PTI legal representatives included Barristers Salman Safdar, Taimur, and Gohar Ali Khan, while special prosecutors comprised of Shah Khawar, Zulfikar Abbas Naqvi, and Raja Rizwan Abbasi.

    During the proceedings, PTI’s lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, representing Khan, raised concerns over the trial’s confined space within the jail premises, emphasizing that it wasn’t in line with legal protocols.

    Family members met the two leaders before witnesses’ statements and cross-examination were conducted; legal teams consulted with Khan and Qureshi. The PTI chief met with his wife Bushra Bibi and sisters Aleema Khan, Noreen Khanum, and Uzma Khan, within the jail premises.

    Qureshi’s daughter, Meharbano, was also present during the trial. She also spoke with the media outside the jail, and demanded justice and a fair trial for her father.

    “Let the family in; no one can have security concerns from their family. Fair trial is my father’s right and as a daughter, I have the right to see the trial,” she added.

    Contempt of court petition

    Adiala jail superintendent responded to the contempt of court petition filed by Khan on Wednesday, requesting the court to dismiss the contempt of court petition.

    “Can’t even think of disobeying the court order,” he stated in his reply.

    The superintendent told the court there is no permanent facility to make phone calls abroad on WhatsApp. He informed the court that the PTI chief spoke with his children on October 18, after the jail took special measures to make the call possible.

    “Arrangements are made for prisoners to speak with family and lawyers at the jail PCO,” he said, adding that the court can direct the Punjab Home Department to amend the rules with regard to making phone calls.

    The court, meanwhile, adjourned the hearing of the contempt petition till Monday due to the absence of Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain.

    Islamabad High Court

    Islamabad High Court’s Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb asked the Attorney General of Pakistan to ensure that the cipher case trial was not conducted in an inappropriate manner, otherwise, it might collapse like a house of cards.

    An IHC bench, comprising Justice Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, heard the intra-court appeal filed by Khan against his jail trial and the appointment of the special court’s judge in the cipher case.

    The court adjourned the proceedings to November 14, allowing time for the attorney general to present arguments.

    Nawaz wants his own umpires

    Talking to media persons outside Adiala Jail, Imran Khan’s lawyer Barrister Umair Niazi said the PTI chief had criticised PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and also rejected the trial of civilians in military courts.

    The PTI lawyer quoted Mr Khan as saying that Nawaz Sharif cannot play without his own umpires and is again looking towards them. All political parties, except the PML-N, are calling for a level playing field, he added.

    Khan expressed concern over the fresh wave of terrorism in the country and said this was because of a “weak” Afghan policy as Mr Bhutto-Zardari, being the foreign minister, did not visit Kabul to address the issue of terrorism.

  • Explosive material found near Adiala jail

    The police on Tuesday found a bag containing an explosive device in Gorakhpur near Adiala jail, where the hearing of the cipher case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan is scheduled for today.

    According to police, the bomb disposal squad also confirmed that the bag had explosive material.

    “The suspicious bag was packed with high-grade explosives of 1,500 grams,” the bomb disposal squad said.

    The explosive device was defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) experts. Senior police officers of Rawalpindi police were present at the spot.

    The bag with explosives material was found one kilometre away from Adiala jail, where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan is imprisoned.

    The incident came to light during a period when the country is facing terrorist threats from both internal and external extremist organisations, including the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

    According to the report of Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), at least 386 security officials lost their lives in first nine months of 2023.  

  • ‘Imran will lead the nation from jail’: PTI Core Committee

    ‘Imran will lead the nation from jail’: PTI Core Committee

    Former ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has declared its intention to participate in the upcoming general elections across all constituencies in the country.

    The decision was made following a key meeting of the party’s core committee.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had previously confirmed that the general elections will take place on February 8, 2024, after the Supreme Court’s instructions.

    The announcement followed consultations with President Arif Alvi in response to the apex court’s directives.

    The Imran Khan-led party, in its statement, reiterated its determination to take part in electoral politics, adding that “Coercion and fascism will not deter [PTI] from contesting the elections.”

    Addressing former prime minister and party chairman Imran Khan’s incarceration, the statement said: “The PTI chairman will lead the nation after being released [from Adiala jail]”.

    “If the chairman is kept incarcerated, [then] he will lead the nation from the jail,” it added.

    As per Imran Khan’s instructions, the party is set to actively engage in the national and provincial assembly elections, undeterred by any form of coercion or suppression, the core committee affirmed.

    The committee paid glowing tributes to the party chairman for demonstrating “unparalleled courage, resilience, and determination”.

    Imran Khan stands as an embodiment of struggle, resistance, maturity, determination, and perseverance in the pursuit of genuine liberation for the nation, the committee noted, highlighting the chairman’s “unwavering resolve” despite his nearly 100-day “unjust incarceration”.

    Members of the committee highlighted that Imran Khan’s “bravery and unwavering commitment” to not compromise on the true freedom of the nation serve as a wellspring of inspiration for the 240 million Pakistanis.

    The PTI also plans to release a ‘White Paper’ outlining the alleged failures of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the caretaker government, which, they claim, have contributed to the country’s economic crisis.

    Notably, the PTI has voiced concerns about the lack of a level playing field in the upcoming elections, a sentiment echoed by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Both parties have alleged biased treatment favoring the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    Meanwhile, as political parties gear up for the elections, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the PML-N, has directed party members to begin their preparations for the upcoming polls during a recent meeting in Lahore.

  • Superintendent Adiala jail served notice on creating hinderance for Imran Khan

    A notice has been served to the superintendent of Adiala Jail on November 6 for not allowing phone conversations between Imran Khan and his sons, as per Geo News.

    The legal counsel of Chairman PTI, Shiraz Ranjha, filed a petition in the Special Court of the Official Secrets Act.

    He alleged contempt of court on the part of the Adiala Jail superintendent for not allowing a phone conversation between Chairman PTI’s sons and their father.

    The petition claimed that despite court orders, the superintendent of Adiala Jail did not facilitate the conversation.

    The petition further requested that action be taken against the superintendent of Adiala Jail for not adhering to the court’s orders and that the jail authorities be directed to enable the phone conversation between Imran Khan and his sons.

    Justice Abual Hasanat heard the petition filed by Chairman PTI and issued a notice to the superintendent of Adiala Jail, demanding a response by November 8.

  • Shah Mahmood Qureshi shifted to hospital after becoming ill

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi shifted to hospital after becoming ill

    Former foreign minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, was urgently shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad on Thursday after he became ill while incarcerated at Adiala jail.

    According to sources of Geo News, Qureshi has been given permission by jail authorities to urgently shift him from jail to the hospital.

    The result of tests conducted at PIMS will determine whether Qureshi will be kept in hospital.

    It should be noted that a special court has indicted Chairman PTI Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cipher case.

  • Imran Khan releases another message from jail

    Imran Khan releases another message from jail

    Imran Khan has released another message for Pakistanis from jail via his family on Tuesday.

    Talking about the responsibility of the judiciary, Imran Khan said, “It is the fiduciary duty of the judiciary and the lawyers to protect the Constitution, upon which rests the progress of our nation. Therefore, the legal fraternity must start and lead a movement for upholding the rights of the people of Pakistan, foremost their fundamental right to vote, to choose their leaders, and to define their future themselves.”

    He also emphasised giving fundamental rights to Pakistanis and said that “whom they choose as their leader is secondary, but they must be given their basic and fundamental right enshrined in the constitution to choose their representatives.”

    While encouraging people to struggle for the betterment of law in the country, Khan said, “Pakistan stands at the crossroads; it is a critical juncture where we are watching the steady destruction and dismantling of our justice system. We must, therefore, act immediately if we are to prevent its complete collapse.”

    Imran Khan also mentioned in his message that “if we do not fight for justice and stand behind our judges, we will not be able to establish constitutional supremacy in this country or stand up against this rule of might, where only the fittest and the richest survive.”

  • Imran Khan’s lawyer retracts from ‘slow poisoning’ statement

    Imran Khan’s lawyer retracts from ‘slow poisoning’ statement

    In the latest development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s lawyer, Aftab Bajwa, said that he misunderstood what Imran Khan said. According to him, Khan feared that he might be slow poisoned.

    Earlier, Aftab Bajwa, said while talking to media that Imran Khan told lawyers that he is being slow-poisoned by toxic substances in his shoes.

    The lawyer also said that the PTI chairman could be a victim of slow-poisoning via the food in Adiala jail because Khan informed his council that home-cooked food is not allowed.

    Bajwa also stated in a media talk that Imran Khan told him that the secret agencies of Pakistan are doing all this.

    PTI’s core committee is holding an urgent meeting about the information that Khan shared with his lawyers during a recent meeting.

    Earlier, Khan was also worried about his health, and in a message through his family on October 28, he stated, “At the moment, I am physically fit. I would know if my body was experiencing changes from weakness. But they have already made two public attempts to take my life. Since I won’t agree to leave my country, there is, of course, a danger that they will try to make another attempt on my life while I am in jail. Such an attempt could also be through slow poisoning.”

  • Jail mein Imran Khan ki kaun kaun si khwahish puri hogayi?

    Jail mein Imran Khan ki kaun kaun si khwahish puri hogayi?

    Former Prime Minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has reportedly had all his desires fulfilled during his time in Adiala Jail, so far.

    A few days ago, the Advocate General of Punjab informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that Imran Khan was being provided with facilities under the jail manual. He also talks to his sons who live in the UK via WhatsApp.

    As per sources of Jang newspaper, Imran Khan has been provided with the following: 

    • Space to walk
    • An exercise machine
    • Television
    • Charpoy
    • Mattress
    • Chair
    • Table
    • Newspapers
    • Books
    • Attached bathroom

    It is reported that the exercise machine, weighing approximately 75 kilograms and valued at Rs1 million, is commonly known as a “mini-gym” in the public domain. 

    Additionally, six doctors and three male nurses have been assigned to him.

    In line with the regulations of the central jail, four cells have been allocated for the former PM during the daytime. 

    A “pehra” in jail parlance refers to a set consisting of four cells or silos where four individuals are accommodated. However, for high-profile prisoners, for security reasons, they are kept separate from other inmates. 

    Therefore, a “pehra” comprising four cells was assigned to Imran Khan, which allowed him to have a 40-foot walkway in front of it, meeting his request for more space. Following a court order, the jail administration also removed the inner wall between the cells during noon, granting him permission to walk in the area in front of eight cells.

    Imran Khan also gets Desi Murgh as per his meal requirements.

    The jail authorities facilitate meetings with his family on Tuesdays and meetings with his lawyers on Thursdays. Permission has been granted to Khan’s lawyers to meet Imran Khan on Tuesdays now as well.

  • Imran Khan ‘fears for his safety’ in jail

    Imran Khan ‘fears for his safety’ in jail

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s bail plea was rejected by the Islamabad High Court on Friday in a case involving the leaking of state secrets.

    The court also turned down his petition to cancel the FIR in the cipher case.

    The charges relate to the alleged unauthorized communication of classified information, with potentially severe penalties of death or up to 14 years imprisonment.

    Imran Khan’s defense team argued that the case didn’t align with specific sections of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and that as a former prime minister, he had constitutional immunity from prosecution.

    However, the prosecution contended that the act applied to all citizens and that his actions had jeopardized national security.

    The court emphasized that the disclosure of the classified document during a political gathering was not within the scope of his duties as prime minister.

    It also noted that only the country’s president and governors possess constitutional immunity while in office, not the prime minister.

    The rejection of Imran Khan’s bail request was due to the seriousness of the allegations and the potential penalties involved.

    Furthermore, concerns were raised about the contested cipher copy remaining in his possession.

    Meanwhile, Imran Khan has expressed fears for his safety, stating concerns that there might be another attempt on his life while he is in jail.

    Police open probe on May 9 events

    An official inquiry into the events of May 9 has been opened by police in three districts of Punjab province against Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the deputy chairman of the party.

    The police teams from Kasur and Faisalabad asked specific questions during the initial investigation, but the PTI leaders chose not to answer them.

    Teams from Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, and Kasur police have commenced their interrogations of Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi within Adiala Jail.

    Permission for these interrogations was granted by a court established under the Official Secrets Act.

    The police team from Rawalpindi is expected to return to Adiala Jail in the coming days to interrogate Shah Mehmood Qureshi and the former prime minister.

    Meanwhile, the teams from Faisalabad and Kasur have completed their preliminary investigations, according to jail sources.

    The jail administration has made special arrangements to make these investigations easier.

    As part of ongoing attempts to determine what happened on May 9 and the roles that different people played in those occurrences, investigations are being conducted.

  • Imran has sent another message from jail for Pakistanis

    Imran has sent another message from jail for Pakistanis

    Former prime minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan conveyed a message to Pakistanis from jail via family sources on October, 24, 2023.

    The Chairman’s account on X said in his message that there is total mockery of law in the country, alleging that what is happening today is not only due to “London Plan” but “London agreement”.

    Imran Khan said in his message: “My Pakistanis! In the last few days, we have witnessed a total mockery of the law. All that is happening today is not just an execution of a London “plan” but “ ” that was signed between a cowardly fugitive & corrupt criminal and his facilitators. The only way a convicted criminal could be allowed to return to politics with a clean chit is by destroying State institutions. And hence, what we are witnessing is a complete collapse of our justice system.”

    He also mentioned that all the cases against him are “fake and politically motivated”. While talking about his cases and political awareness in the people he said that, “My Pakistanis! Please remember, all the cases against me are completely bogus & politically motivated, concocted only to keep me in jail for certain till after the elections or maybe much longer beyond the elections. However, the growing political awareness and increasing resistance against closed-room conspiracies in my nation scares them.”

    The former prime minister also said while talking about his health that, “At the moment I am physically fit. I would know if my body was experiencing change from weakness. But they have already made two public attempts to take my life. Since I won’t agree to leave my country there is of course a danger they will try to make another attempt on my life while I am in jail. Such an attempt could also be through slow poisoning.”

    He also mentioned that “Our struggle is entering its decisive phase. You will have to fight for your own rights and your country’s freedom. I have directed my lawyers and party office bearers to hold conventions all over the country and also commence the campaign for whenever elections are held.”