{"id":15525,"date":"2023-10-18T19:58:38","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T19:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/special-court-directs-jail-official-to-let-imran-contact-his-sons-over-telephone\/"},"modified":"2023-10-18T19:58:38","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T19:58:38","slug":"special-court-directs-jail-official-to-let-imran-contact-his-sons-over-telephone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/special-court-directs-jail-official-to-let-imran-contact-his-sons-over-telephone\/","title":{"rendered":"Special court directs jail official to let Imran contact his sons over telephone"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<p>The special court on Wednesday directed the Adiala Jail superintendent to allow incarcerated PTI Chairman Imran Khan to get in touch with his sons on a telephone call.<\/p>\n<p>The PTI chief was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1768528\/imran-arrested-after-islamabad-court-finds-him-guilty-of-corrupt-practices-in-toshakhana-case\">convicted and sentenced<\/a> to three years in prison in the Toshakhana graft case on August 5, 2023. He was subsequently shifted to Attock jail, but the IHC later <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1772860\/imrans-toshakhana-sentence-suspended-but-detention-at-attock-jail-to-continue-in-cipher-case\">suspended his sentence<\/a>. However, Imran <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1773063\">remained in jail<\/a> because he was on judicial remand in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1771179\">cipher case<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On August 30, the special court had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1773415\">directed<\/a> the Attock district jail superintendent to make arrangements for a phone call between the PTI chief and his sons.<\/p>\n<p>However, upon the failure of the jail officials to do so, Imran\u2019s legal team had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1775380\">filed<\/a> a contempt of court petition in a special court against the superintendent.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, the IHC <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1777797\/ihc-cj-orders-imran-be-shifted-to-adiala-jail\">accepted<\/a> Imran\u2019s petition to be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1777973\/pti-chief-shifted-to-adiala-jail-in-rawalpindi-on-court-orders\">shifted<\/a> to Adiala jail in Rawalpindi from Attock district jail. He has since remained there on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1777973\/pti-chief-shifted-to-adiala-jail-in-rawalpindi-on-court-orders\">judicial remand<\/a> and is expected to be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1781567\/indictment-of-imran-qureshi-in-cipher-case-adjourned-till-next-week\">indicted<\/a> in the cipher case on October 23, along with former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.<\/p>\n<p>Today, Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain took up a petition seeking directives to the Adiala jail officials to allow Imran to contact his sons. Sheraz Ahmed Ranjha appeared in court as the PTI chairman\u2019s counsel.<\/p>\n<p>In the written order issued, the judge noted that the jail superintendent had \u201csubmitted his comments with the respect of SOPs in which there is no doubt that this sought of desired communication through telephone or by other mode in abroad are not warranted, specifically case in hand which is of Official Secret Act Court but the agonies of [the] family cannot [be] kept isolated\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>He then stated that the jail superintendent was directed to allow Imran to make a phone call to \u201cfamily members (real sons)\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"the-hearing\" href=\"#the-hearing\" class=\"heading-permalink\" aria-hidden=\"true\" title=\"Permalink\"\/>The hearing<\/h2>\n<p>At the outset of the hearing, the judge noted that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding a telephone conversation had not been received from the Adiala jail superintendent.<\/p>\n<p>In response, the lawyer offered to assist the court with the matter and also requested the court allow his client to be provided with a cycle for exercise.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Zulqarnain responded that he had already issued directives to the jail officials for providing a cycle, to which Ranjha said he could provide the cycle today if the court allowed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI do not want the cycle to be misused such that the jail superintendent keeps using the cycle. We also have to keep the jail manual in mind. For us, the security of an under-trial prisoner is important,\u201d the judge said.<\/p>\n<p>At this, the lawyer offered that the court may appoint a person in whose supervision the cycle could be used.<\/p>\n<p>The judge asked: \u201cThe PTI chairman says to get him meals from [his] home but who will take the responsibility for it?\u201d He added that if the meals were prepared at the jail, the officials were responsible for it.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Zulqarnain then said he would issue an order on the matter of providing a cycle. At this, the counsel informed the court that Imran\u2019s sister, Aleema Khan, had to come to the court today.<\/p>\n<p>The judge then asked if he wanted the verdict to be pronounced in the presence of Aleema and ordered a break in the hearing until she arrived.<\/p>\n<p>When the hearing resumed upon the sister\u2019s arrival, the special court judge observed that according to the SOPs, the suspect was not allowed to make calls abroad. \u201cI will still review the matter of a telephone conversation according to the jail manual.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ranjha argued that the Official Secrets Act did not bar the suspect from making a phone call to his family.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAccording to the Prison Rules, there is permission to let the wife and children meet [the suspect] for 12 hours. Other suspects are absolutely allowed to have a telephonic conversation,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>At this, Judge Zulqarnain asked the lawyer to show him where it was written in the jail manual that the suspect was allowed to make a phone call abroad.<\/p>\n<p>Ranjha then admitted that the jail manual did not permit it but cited that the Federal Shariat Court had allowed so in a verdict and submitted the verdict in the special court.<\/p>\n<p>The counsel stated that prisoners were allowed to contact family members on Saturdays, at which the judge once again asked him to cite the permission to talk to someone abroad.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Attock jail superintendent misrepresented matters. A show-cause notice should be issued,\u201d Imran\u2019s lawyer said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am saying in your favour. I am giving permission for a telephone conversation. The Adiala jail superintendent is allowed to have the sons talk [to Imran],\u201d the special court judge observed.<\/p>\n<p>Subsequently, he disposed of the former premier\u2019s plea.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"aleema-asks-cycle-to-be-provided-to-imran\" href=\"#aleema-asks-cycle-to-be-provided-to-imran\" class=\"heading-permalink\" aria-hidden=\"true\" title=\"Permalink\"\/>Aleema asks cycle to be provided to Imran<\/h2>\n<p>At one point during the hearing, Aleema said before the court, \u201cI want to say something. The facility of a gym is present in Adiala Jail. There is a cycle in the PTI chairman\u2019s house that he uses. My brother has not asked for anything aside from the cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To this, the judge replied, \u201cKeeping the family in mind, I have granted you the favour. Do not worry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Aleema then asked if it was possible for a person to provide the cycle from Imran\u2019s house. Judge Zulqarnain asked, \u201cThe PTI chairman is an important personality, an important life. If something happens on the way while delivering the cycle, who will be responsible?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To this, Aleema replied, \u201cIt is a clear matter. You have the control of the jail. Whenever you issue an order on the cycle, it will be delivered to the jail.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The judge responded: \u201cI went to the jail and got the wall demolished. Which judge does this? The wall in the jail has been demolished. Now his walk is continuing comfortably.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Imran\u2019s sister reiterated that the cycle be provided to her brother \u201cas soon as possible\u201d. At this, the judge said, \u201cTell me something that you have asked for and I have not given.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Aleema replied, \u201cWe will be very grateful if the PTI chairman gets justice. The PTI chairman has only wished for health during his life. Judge <em>sahib<\/em>, it is hoped from you that you will get the cycle delivered to the PTI chairman as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Judge Zulqarnain responded, \u201cWe will provide everything except a swimming pool to the PTI chairman. Take care that it[\u2019s tyre] does not get punctured.\u201d Aleema then urged the judge to issue the order so she could send the cycle.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The special court on Wednesday directed the Adiala Jail superintendent to allow incarcerated PTI Chairman Imran Khan to get in touch with his sons on a telephone call. The PTI chief was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison in the Toshakhana graft case on August 5, 2023. He was subsequently shifted to Attock [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.dawn.com\/large\/2023\/10\/181406581923ede.jpg?r=140715","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pakistan"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15525"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15525\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}