During a hearing on Friday regarding the early pronouncement of a reserved judgment on Imran Khan’s petition against jail trial and change of judge in the cipher case, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq raised questions about the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s reported reservations concerning the former prime minister’s transfer to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
Chief Justice Farooq directed his query towards PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s lawyer, Sher Afzal Marwat. The query came as a surprise during the course of the hearing, where the judge asked Marwat if there was any dissatisfaction from the PTI’s side regarding the court’s order on Khan’s transfer. He reminded the lawyer that the initial petition was filed by Imran Khan for his transfer from Attock to Adiala Jail.
“Then why is there so much controversy from your side in the press?” the chief justice questioned the counsel.
In response to the judge’s inquiry, Marwat clarified that no official statement had been issued by the PTI regarding any dissatisfaction with the court’s order.
Discussing the level of facilities provided to the former prime minister in Adiala Jail, Imran Khan’s counsel expressed disappointment, saying, “We knew that B class would be given in Adiala Jail, but it was not given.”
Chief Justice Farooq assured Marwat that Imran Khan would be provided with a better class of facilities after the court issued a relevant order. This assurance followed a petition filed by the PTI chairman’s lawyer, Latif Khosa.
The hearing is ongoing as the legal proceedings concerning Imran Khan’s jail transfer continue to unfold in the Islamabad High Court.
