IHC reserves verdict on maintainability of petitions against Imran, Bushra’s alleged solitary confinement

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the maintainability of petitions challenging the alleged solitary confinement of the jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. A day earlier, the IHC removed the registrar office’s (RO) objections to petitions challenging the alleged solitary confinement and had directed that both petitions be numbered while deferring the question of maintainability to the judicial side. The court had adjourned the proceedings till Tuesday (today). As the hearing resumed on Tuesday, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro reserved the order after hearing detailed arguments from counsel for the petitioners and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Barrister Salman Safdar, representing the petitioners, submitted that he would first assist the court on the petition filed by Bushra Bibi’s daughter, Mubashara Khawar Maneka. Noting that he also had to appear before a division bench later in the day, he sought to conclude his submissions expeditiously. Justice Soomro remarked with a smile: “We have also sacrificed our tea.” The petitions were filed by Aleema Khan on behalf of the PTI founder and by Mubashara on behalf of Bushra Bibi. Barrister Safdar argued that both the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the IHC had previously relied on the Begum Shamim Afridi case while dealing with issues relating to solitary confinement. Referring to objections raised by the NAB prosecutor during proceedings in the £190 million case appeals, the counsel denied having previously sought any relief specifically regarding solitary confinement. He produced the record of a miscellaneous application filed in those appeals and argued that the application merely sought signatures on a power of attorney. “There is no mention of solitary confinement in that application or in the written order passed that day,” he contended, adding that solitary confinement had only been referred to in the grounds of the application as background becaus