ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued a stern directive to the Superintendent of Adiala Jail, summoning him in his personal capacity for the next hearing regarding the provision of a personal physician and family visitation rights for Bushra Bibi, the wife of PTI founder Imran Khan.
The order follows a tense session presided over by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, which highlighted deep-seated frustrations regarding the administration’s adherence to judicial directives.
The judicial summons comes against a backdrop of mounting concern regarding the Adiala Jail administration’s track record.
Legal fraternity has noted a troubling pattern: both the current and previous Superintendents have been accused of repeatedly disregarding court orders. Historically, such defiance of high court mandates by jail officials has rarely faced concrete punitive action, fostering a perception that administrative obstructionism in this case has remained unchecked by the judiciary—until now.
During the hearing today, Advocate General (AG) Naveed Hayat Malik and petitioner counsel Salman Akram Raja engaged in a heated debate. The AG requested additional time, asserting that there was “no emergency” regarding the medical access requested for Bushra Bibi and that jail affairs were being conducted according to the jail manual.
Advocate Salman Akram Raja vehemently challenged this, emphasizing that the situation was indeed urgent, noting that Bushra Bibi’s family had been denied access to her. Raja pointedly highlighted the Superintendent’s absence, despite a previous directive, to which the AG responded that the administration had already made a decision on the matter.
“Which hearing is held over the phone?” Raja retorted, questioning the procedural legitimacy of the state’s handling of the visitation requests.
Taking a firm stance, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir addressed the persistent administrative defiance. In a clear signal that the court will no longer tolerate the standard pattern of non-compliance, the judge ordered the Superintendent to appear in person at the next hearing.
Justice Arbab delivered a sharp warning: “If he does not come, we will send a man who will arrest him and bring him.”
The court has adjourned the proceedings until next Tuesday, setting the stage for a critical confrontation between the judiciary and the jail administration.
