ISLAMABAD: A day after the Supreme Court sought a report on PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s living conditions in jail, his wife Bushra Bibi expressed the fear that her husband’s life was under serious threat in prison. Meanwhile, his sister Aleema has claimed that the PTI chief had “rejected offers” to leave Pakistan and was bravely facing his sentence.

Bushra Bibi, in an application before the apex court through her counsel Hamid Khan, claimed that she was only allowed to meet her husband after unwarranted delays and difficulties.

The application was filed after a three-judge SC bench ordered the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan on Thursday to furnish a report highlighting the living conditions of the inmate.

It explained that she met her husband on Aug 22 at the Attock jail, and despite her husband’s resolve not to make any complaints about his distress in jail, Bushra Bibi claimed it is her duty to bring to the attention of the SC what she observed.

Imran’s sisters file petition for permission to visit Attock jail; Aleema says brother rejected offers to leave Pakistan; JIT quizzes PTI chief

The applicant noted a significant decline in her husband’s health, with a substantial weight loss during his confinement, particularly loss of muscle around his arms. Such a decline in someone’s health can pose a serious danger to his life, the application said, adding that she feared that her husband’s life was seriously threatened and pleaded with the SC to take serious notice of the matter.

Sisters seek permission

Aleema Khanum and Uzma Khan also filed a petition with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday, seeking permission to visit Attock jail to meet incarcerated brother Mr Khan.

The petition stated that the jail superintendent did not allow them to meet Mr Khan when they contacted him a day earlier.

The petitioners requested the court to issue an order to the jail superintendent to facilitate their meeting with their detained brother.

Speaking to the media outside the IHC, Aleema stated that her brother had rejected offers to leave Pakistan and was courageously facing the sentence.

She mentioned that the government had filed four cases against her and six cases against Uzma Khan.

Furthermore, she asserted that such tactics would not weaken their resolve, as they were prepared to go to jail at any time.

She added that the court had assured them of a meeting with Mr Khan on Monday, and if the jail superintendent were to prevent them, they would stage a sit-in in front of the jail.

JIT visits Attock jail

Separately, a Joint Inve­stigation Team (JIT), tasked with probing the May 9 riots and the attack on the corps commander’s house in Lahore, questioned the PTI chairman in Attock jail on Friday, official sources confirmed.

According to the sources, a five-member team, headed by DIG Investigation Imran Kishwar, subjected the PTI chief to rigorous questioning for around two hours regarding the former premier’s alleged involvement in the May 9 incidents following his detention. Authorities have further strengthened security around the jail on this occasion.

This move follows the approval granted by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) to investigate and potentially arrest Mr Khan in connection with the violent events that occurred on May 9.

It’s worth mentioning that Mr Khan has appeared twice in front of the JIT to respond to their inquiries. During his testimony before the JIT on July 14, the PTI leader addressed 35 questions related to the alleged attacks on the Corps Commander House Lahore and other military sites in Lahore.

Malik Asad in Islamabad and Amjad Iqbal in Taxila also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2023