Imran Khan’s Lawyers Granted Jail Meeting as per IHC Directive
Legal representatives of former Prime Minister Imran Khan have been granted permission to visit him at Adiala Jail, following a ruling by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). This meeting comes after an order mandating that Imran and his wife, Bushra Bibi, be allowed a one-hour session with their attorneys within two days.
Details of the Court-Ordered Meeting
On Wednesday, Barrister Salman Safdar and Sardar Latif Khosa proceeded toward Adiala Jail from the Dahgal checkpoint to meet with Imran Khan, complying with the recent IHC verdict. The lawyers emphasized that their discussions would focus strictly on legal matters, avoiding any political topics. Safdar remarked, “We have a meeting today. Khosa sahib and I are going. We will not discuss politics.” Meanwhile, Salman Akram Raja remained at the checkpoint during this visit.
Background on Restricted Access and Legal Challenges
Access to Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi at Adiala Jail has been under tight control, with meetings increasingly limited over recent months. Since December 2025, authorities have restricted weekly meetings between the PTI leader and his family or legal counsel. In April 2026, Safdar held a 60-minute consultation with Imran, per an earlier IHC directive; however, Bushra Bibi was not present. Both are reportedly held in near-solitary confinement around the clock, without access to books, media, or contact with family and lawyers.
Previous legal interventions aimed at easing these restrictions include an IHC order in June 2026 to facilitate meetings for legal formalities and appeal processes, and a Supreme Court directive in August to allow weekly family visits. Imran’s sister visited him after a nine-month interval in August 2026, and another brief meeting involving Safdar and both clients occurred in November.
Implications for Pakistan’s Legal and Political Landscape
The authorized meeting represents a significant moment for the continuation of legal procedures involving Imran Khan. It demonstrates judicial insistence on upholding rights to legal counsel amid highly charged political circumstances. For Pakistan’s public and legal community, this development underscores the tension between security protocols within correctional facilities and fundamental legal rights, raising concerns about detainees’ treatment and access to justice.
