Imran’s wife asks IHC to shift her to Adiala Jail

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi on Tuesday approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the notification declaring her Banigala residence in Islamabad a sub-jail and pleaded that she be moved to Adiala Jail Rawalpindi.

The first lady said she wished to serve her sentence, like any other convict, within the premises of the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi. The plea named Islamabad’s chief commissioner, Adiala Jail superintendent, the inspector general of Punjab prisons and the state as respondents in the case.

It stated that Bushra Bibi was on her way to Adiala Jail on Jan.31 when she was “made aware of the judgment” in the Toshakhana reference.

“Consequently, the petitioner [Bibi], being a law-abiding citizen of Pakistan with the utmost respect and regard for the law, proceeded to Adiala Jail to surrender before the competent authorities,” the petition said.

Upon reaching the prison, Bushra Bibi told the superintendent that she was ready to surrender but was made to wait from 10am to 9pm.

“Ater 9pm, the petitioner was informed that she had to be shited to another prison to serve her sentence, however, she was brought to her residence at Banigala. Upon inquiry, the petitioner was informed by the concerned officials that her residence at Residential Compound […] had been declared as a sub-jail,” the petition stated.

It highlighted that no such request was made by Bushra in this regard, adding that Imran’s wife was “ready and willing” to serve her sentence in the designated ordinary jail premises.

The plea further stated that Bushra Bibi “does not feel safe to be confined alone in the premises of the sub-jail due to the potential security issues” and there had been “movement of unidentified people” around Banigala which compounded her “sense of insecurity.”

“The impugned notification goes against the principles of justice and equality as provided under Islam whereby each and every citizen is to be afforded equal treatment and no individual is superior to another or is to be given preferential treatment,” it said.