ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday permitted PTI counsel Salman Safdar to meet imprisoned party leader Imran Khan at Adiala Jail, appointing him amicus curiae (friend of the court).
The development follows the rejection of an “urgent” meeting request filed by senior PTI leader Latif Khosa just a day earlier. A two-member bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, had noted that such an order could not be granted without hearing the government’s side, prompting a notice to the authorities for Tuesday.
During the resumed hearing, CJP Afridi officially designated Safdar as friend of the court, instructing him to visit Adiala Jail today and submit a written report on Imran Khan’s living conditions by tomorrow. PTI counsel Latif Khosa and Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan were also present in court.
At the start of proceedings, CJP Afridi barred Khosa from speaking, while AGP Awan stated that a report on Imran’s conditions had already been submitted in line with the Supreme Court’s August 24, 2023, order. This report included medical details covering August 5–18, 2023, at a time when Imran was in Attock Jail.
“After the August 24 order, nothing on record has satisfied this court,” remarked CJP Afridi, emphasizing the need for a fresh assessment. He then directed that Safdar be given full access to Imran and assured that he would not be kept waiting outside the jail. In case of any obstacles, the CJP’s personal staff would assist him.
Safdar raised the issue of whether the report should be limited to living conditions, citing concerns about Imran’s health following a recent medical procedure. The court clarified, “Submit a report on living conditions only.”
AGP Awan requested the court acknowledge in its order that a prior report had already been submitted. Meanwhile, Khosa sought permission to meet Imran himself, but the bench again denied the request. The hearing was adjourned until February 12.
PTI Sees ‘Progress’ in Court Talks
After the hearing, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja described his recent conversation with the chief justice as “beneficial,” noting that discussions included Imran’s incarceration and health. He added, however, that no final conclusions had been reached.
Raja confirmed that lawyers would visit Adiala Jail today and observe the treatment of the former premier. He also called for a return to “humanity and piousness” in the system, highlighting PTI’s demand for humane treatment of its leader.
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 5, 2023, currently held at Rawalpindi’s Central Jail. Last week, PTI submitted a memorandum to the Supreme Court seeking immediate visitation rights for Imran by his family, doctors, lawyers, and friends, alleging that his rights as a prisoner and a human being have been repeatedly violated. The memorandum also raised concerns over reports of a secretive medical procedure conducted in Islamabad, with relatives allegedly kept unaware, in violation of jail rules.