ISLAMABAD: A top Pakistan court on Thursday reserved its verdict on a plea by former Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi seeking transfer of her to the high-security Adiala jail, where her husband was imprisoned.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Khan, 71, is being held in Rawalpindi's Adiala jail after being convicted in multiple cases, while 49-year-old Bushra Bibi is currently jailed in Bani Gala - Khan's home in Islamabad. Are closed. They have been in sub-jail since the couple were sentenced in the 'non-Islamic Nikah case' in February.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb reserved judgment on the plea requesting transfer of Bushra Bibi from Bani Gala sub-jail to Adiala jail, The New International said.
The former first lady's lawyer Usman Gul said the process of declaring the residence a sub-jail was completed within a few hours.The court said that the Adiala jail superintendent had informed that they could not keep Bushra Bibi as the jail was already overcrowded. It added, "Apparently, I had already decided that he was to be transferred to Bani Gala."
The New International, citing the proceedings, further said that Justice Aurangzeb raised several questions on declaring Bani Gala as a sub-jail and asked the state counsel whether its notification was prepared in a minute.
“Don’t you think it was already decided that Bushra Bibi would have to shift home? How many women have been brought to Adiala jail after Bushehr Bibi was sent home?” He enquired.
The IHC judge questioned whether the 141 women brought to jail after this had fewer rights. "Why don't you send the other women home too?" He asked.Responding to the judge, the government's lawyer said Bushra was transferred to Bani Gala because of the danger he faced in prison.
Justice Aurangzeb said that he would be very happy if he were confined to his house "voluntarily" and questioned how a prisoner's property could be sub-jai without his consent.
On February 6, Bushra Bibi challenged the authorities' move to house arrest her to serve her 14-year sentence.
In the petition, Khan's wife said that like other political workers of the party, she was ready and willing to serve her sentence in the "General Jai Complex in Adiala Jail" instead of the declared sub-jail at her residence.
Furthermore, the former first lady said that being confined alone in the sub-jail complex made her feel "unsafe" due to potential security issues.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Khan, 71, is being held in Rawalpindi's Adiala jail after being convicted in multiple cases, while 49-year-old Bushra Bibi is currently jailed in Bani Gala - Khan's home in Islamabad. Are closed. They have been in sub-jail since the couple were sentenced in the 'non-Islamic Nikah case' in February.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb reserved judgment on the plea requesting transfer of Bushra Bibi from Bani Gala sub-jail to Adiala jail, The New International said.
The former first lady's lawyer Usman Gul said the process of declaring the residence a sub-jail was completed within a few hours.The court said that the Adiala jail superintendent had informed that they could not keep Bushra Bibi as the jail was already overcrowded. It added, "Apparently, I had already decided that he was to be transferred to Bani Gala."
The New International, citing the proceedings, further said that Justice Aurangzeb raised several questions on declaring Bani Gala as a sub-jail and asked the state counsel whether its notification was prepared in a minute.
“Don’t you think it was already decided that Bushra Bibi would have to shift home? How many women have been brought to Adiala jail after Bushehr Bibi was sent home?” He enquired.
The IHC judge questioned whether the 141 women brought to jail after this had fewer rights. "Why don't you send the other women home too?" He asked.Responding to the judge, the government's lawyer said Bushra was transferred to Bani Gala because of the danger he faced in prison.
Justice Aurangzeb said that he would be very happy if he were confined to his house "voluntarily" and questioned how a prisoner's property could be sub-jai without his consent.
On February 6, Bushra Bibi challenged the authorities' move to house arrest her to serve her 14-year sentence.
In the petition, Khan's wife said that like other political workers of the party, she was ready and willing to serve her sentence in the "General Jai Complex in Adiala Jail" instead of the declared sub-jail at her residence.
Furthermore, the former first lady said that being confined alone in the sub-jail complex made her feel "unsafe" due to potential security issues.
