IHC directs authorities to facilitate Imran’s meetings

A legal team representing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan reached Adiala jail on Wednesday to meet the former prime minister after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed authorities to facilitate access to him.

Barrister Salman Safdar and Advocate Latif Khosa arrived at the prison and informed officials that the high court had authorised their meeting with Imran.

PTI lawyer Awais Younus Chaudhry said the two lawyers were initially kept waiting but were later allowed to enter the jail. He said prison authorities had informed them that arrangements for the meeting would be made.

Chaudhry added that it would be clear after their return whether the lawyers had met Imran together or separately. Under the court’s directions, each lawyer is entitled to a one-hour meeting with the PTI founder.

The IHC issued the instructions on Tuesday while hearing appeals filed by Imran and his wife, Bushra Bibi, against their convictions in the £190 million reference. The court directed the authorities to ensure that Imran could meet his legal team.

The high court has also permitted twice-weekly meetings with Imran on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These meetings are intended to include his family members, lawyers and other associates. However, access to him has remained restricted in recent months despite repeated court orders.

Imran has been imprisoned since August 5, 2023. His wife, Bushra Bibi, was arrested on January 17, 2025, in a separate case in which both were subsequently sentenced.

Safdar last met Imran on November 2, ending a gap of around seven months. Their previous meeting had taken place in April, when the Supreme Court had designated Safdar as an amicus curiae. During the November meeting, he visited Imran in his capacity as his lawyer.

Following that meeting, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said political matters were not discussed. According to him, Safdar focused on the legal proceedings and sought Imran’s views on the future course of action.

Asked about Imran’s health, Akram said the matter had also been discussed during the meeting but maintained that the party would limit its public comments to legal issues.