IHC issues notices on plea for Imran's privacy meetings with his wife in Adiala Jail

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday sought replies from the Chief Commissioner Islamabad, the Punjab government, the Punjab inspector general of prisons, and the superintendent of Adiala Jail on a petition seeking permission for PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to exercise their conjugal rights in the Rawalpindi prison.

The petition was moved by Shahid Yaqoob, a resident of Islamabad and supporter of Mr Khan, under Article 199 of the Constitution. After the preliminary hearing, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued notices to the respondents and adjourned proceedings until September 30.

شرمناک حرکت والی پٹیشن پر سماعت کا تحریری حکم نامہ اسلام آباد ہائیکورٹ کے جسٹس ارباب محمد طاہر نے جاری کرتے ہوئے لکھا ہے کہ " ایک درخواست گزار عمران خان اور بشری بی بی کو جیل میں ازدواجی تعلق کی سہولت فراہم کرنے کے لئے عدالت کے سامنے آیا پھر اس کے وکیل نے کہا جیل حکام یہ سہولت… https://t.co/FoDu2DpbqU pic.twitter.com/G55pfmMnx1

— Saqib Bashir (@saqibbashir156) September 23, 2025

The petitioner contended that the denial of conjugal rights was in breach of constitutional guarantees, international conventions, and judicial precedents. The plea referred to the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (also known as the Nelson Mandela Rules), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the European Convention on Human Rights, all of which emphasise protection of family life.

It further pointed to a 2010 notification by the Sindh Home Department, issued in compliance with Supreme Court directions, allowing convicted prisoners conjugal visits once every three months.

The petition also cited a landmark judgment of the Federal Shariat Court which recognised conjugal rights of inmates as a fundamental entitlement.

The petitioner urged the court to direct the implementation of the Supreme Court and Federal Shariat Court rulings in this regard.