ISLAMABAD, March 18, 2025 – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has restored twice-weekly meetings for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, allowing visitors to meet him on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Adiala Jail.
However, the court has imposed a strict ban on media interactions after these meetings. No visitor will be allowed to address the media, and only individuals pre-approved by PTI’s coordinator Salman Akram Raja will be permitted to meet the former premier.
Legal Battle Over Meeting Rights
The decision was issued by a three-member bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan. The court merged multiple petitions regarding Khan’s visitation rights after a plea was filed by Adiala Jail Superintendent Abdul Ghafoor Anjum.
Previously, the jail superintendent had restricted meetings to Tuesdays, citing security concerns and a change in Khan’s prisoner status from under-trial to convicted in January 2025. The restriction had led to multiple legal challenges, with PTI members and supporters seeking greater access to their leader.
Court Ruling & Justifications
During the hearing, the jail superintendent’s lawyer, Naveed Malik, argued that meetings had always followed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and that limiting them to one day was necessary due to security concerns. However, the court ruled in favor of restoring the twice-weekly meeting schedule while prohibiting political or media discussions after the meetings.
Justice Dogar remarked, “We should obtain an undertaking from visitors to ensure they do not hold media talks after the meetings.”
The IHC also acknowledged that over 100 petitions had been filed regarding Khan’s prison meetings, with 98 cases already resolved. The court suggested that a larger bench should settle the matter permanently.
With the restoration of twice-weekly meetings, PTI leaders and supporters will now have increased access to Khan, but without any public statements following their visits.
