The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has allowed former prime minister Imran Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, and his wife Bushra Bibi’s counsel, Sardar Latif Khosa, to meet their clients at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. A two-member bench headed by IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar directed jail authorities to arrange one-hour meetings on Wednesday. The order came during a hearing of appeals challenging the convictions in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case. During the proceedings, the court told Safdar that it had granted permission in accordance with the law. The bench also cautioned him against later seeking permission to add five more individuals to the list of visitors allowed to meet Imran Khan. Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar questioned why another meeting was necessary, noting that Safdar had met Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi a few days earlier. Safdar explained that the previous meeting had not provided enough time to discuss the relevant matters, making another meeting necessary. The court first allowed Khosa to meet Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan before granting Safdar permission to meet his client. It directed jail authorities to arrange the meetings for one hour. Bushra Bibi’s Health Concerns Raised Earlier in the hearing, Safdar raised concerns about Bushra Bibi’s health and requested the formation of a medical board to assess her condition. He told the court that Bushra Bibi had informed him during their previous meeting that prison authorities had taken her for surgery six months ago. She had also been scheduled for another operation on November 15. Safdar said prison authorities had acknowledged before the Supreme Court that Bushra Bibi was suffering from an eye condition. Mehrgarh Museum: US-Funded Restoration Project Completed Ahead of Reopening He clarified that he had not yet filed a bail application on medical grounds. He also argued that courts traditionally take a considerate approach in cases involving women. Safdar maintained that Bushra Bibi could not receive adequate treatment in prison. He said he would begin arguments on the appeals after her medical treatment was completed. Islamabad Advocate General Naveed Malik told the court that Bushra Bibi was receiving medical care in prison. He said access to healthcare was a fundamental right and that the government was fulfilling its responsibilities. Malik also submitted details of the medical facilities and treatment provided to her. Safdar asked the court to seek further information from prison authorities. He alleged that authorities had returned Bushra Bibi to her cell on the same day as her surgery, although doctors had performed the procedure on an emergency basis. He argued that returning her to the cell immediately after emergency surgery was inappropriate. The advocate general informed the court that a medical board had also examined Bushra Bibi on November 8. Post navigation Mehrgarh Museum: US-Funded Restoration Project Completed Ahead of Reopening
