Summary Three Adiala Jail prisoners approached the IHC seeking private hospital treatment and family contact, citing the Supreme Court order concerning Imran Khan’s medical care and family meetings.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Three prisoners lodged in Adiala Jail have approached the Islamabad High Court seeking private hospital treatment and permission to contact their family members, citing the Supreme Court order concerning PTI founder Imran Khan’s treatment and family meetings.
Justice Muhammad Asif heard the petitions filed by prisoners Ilyas Khan, Muhammad Ismail Khan and Owais Altaf. The Islamabad High Court issued a notice to the Adiala Jail superintendent and sought a detailed response from the jail authorities. The court adjourned further hearing until August 27.
Counsel for Muhammad Ismail Khan told the court that his client suffers from hemophilia and is facing internal bleeding. He said the prisoner had been taken to hospital 10 times during the past two months, but his condition had not improved significantly.
The lawyer maintained that complete treatment for the prisoner’s disease is currently possible only at Shifa Hospital in Pakistan. He argued that if a prisoner’s illness cannot be treated at a government hospital, the inmate can be shifted to a private hospital, while treatment expenses can be borne by the family, as clarified in a Supreme Court judgment.
The counsel requested the court to order the formation of a medical board for the petitioner and sought his transfer to Shifa Hospital if the required treatment was not available at a government hospital.
Meanwhile, lawyer Syed Jafar appeared through video link on behalf of Owais Altaf. He submitted that his client was suffering from fever and a heart condition. He argued that proper medical treatment is a fundamental right of a prisoner and requested the court to order Owais Altaf’s transfer to Shifa Hospital if adequate treatment was not possible at a government hospital.
In another plea, counsel for Muhammad Ismail Khan told the court that his client had been imprisoned in Adiala Jail for the past nine years. He said the prisoner’s brother was living in Dubai and that the two had not been in contact for years.
The lawyer requested the court to direct jail authorities to facilitate a WhatsApp call between Muhammad Ismail Khan and his brother, arguing that the petitioner should also be allowed family contact in light of the rights granted in the Supreme Court order concerning Imran Khan.
The petitions were filed in the context of the Supreme Court’s order regarding Imran Khan’s treatment at a private hospital and meetings with his family. The prisoners have sought similar relief for their medical treatment and communication with family members.
The Islamabad High Court issued notices to the Adiala Jail superintendent and sought para-wise comments from the jail authorities in all three cases. The court adjourned the hearing until August 27.
