Posts in category: Crime & Court

ISLAMABAD: Adiala Jail authorities have denied that former prime minister Imran Khan is being held in solitary confinement, according to a report submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) after he completed three years in Adiala Jail.

The report was filed by the Superintendent of Adiala Jail ahead of a hearing on a petition regarding alleged solitary confinement. Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro is scheduled to hear the case on Thursday.

In the report, the jail superintendent rejected allegations that Imran Khan was being kept in solitary confinement or subjected to discriminatory or unequal treatment.

The report stated that the practice of solitary confinement in prisons has largely been abolished and is no longer in use. It added that no prisoner, including Imran Khan, is being held in solitary confinement at Adiala Jail.

According to the report, Imran Khan has been convicted and is serving his sentence in accordance with the law. It said he is being treated in line with the legal provisions applicable to other prisoners and that no discriminatory or unequal treatment is being extended to him. However, as a better-class prisoner, he has been provided with certain additional facilities permitted under prison rules.

The report further stated that, due to his status as a former prime minister and political party leader, special security arrangements have been made for him. Ordinary inmates are not allowed access to his residential area. It added that the facilities available to him also demonstrate that he is not being kept in solitary confinement, as he is able to move freely throughout a seven-cell compound during the day.

According to the report, Imran Khan remains inside his cell only during specified hours at night. Jail officers and staff remain in regular contact with him regarding his needs, while the Deputy Superintendent of Jail meets him as part of routine duties and also holds special meetings with him.

Also Read: PTI Announces August 5 Rally and Nationwide Protests to Demand Imran Khan’s Release

The report said the jail doctor examines Imran Khan three times daily, inspects his food, and checks his blood pressure, heartbeat, oxygen saturation and other vital signs. Additional medical examinations are also carried out whenever required.

It further stated that one full-time convicted prisoner has been assigned to prepare Imran Khan’s preferred meals three times a day. He is provided access to natural light, fresh air and exercise from sunrise until sunset, while his privacy is ensured in accordance with the jail manual.

The report said Imran Khan is free to move around and engage in activities of his choice until evening lock-up. His place of detention is secure and remains under constant monitoring, with an adequate number of staff deployed. Jail authorities also regularly review the security arrangements around his place of detention.

Under prison rules, Imran Khan is allowed to meet his wife, Bushra Bibi, every Tuesday. He is also regularly provided with newspapers and books of his choice.

The report further referred to an inspection conducted on February 10 by Salman Safdar in his capacity as a friend of the court. According to the report, Safdar inspected Imran Khan’s accommodation and detention conditions and subsequently submitted his findings to the Supreme Court, concluding that his custody and living conditions were appropriate and satisfactory, with no indication whatsoever of solitary confinement.

Rejecting the allegations made by petitioner Aleema Khan, the Superintendent of Adiala Jail described the claims as speculative and baseless and requested the Islamabad High Court to declare the petition without merit and dismiss it.

WANA: Prominent religious and social figure Mufti Jina Mir was killed in a blast in Rustam Bazaar in South Waziristan on Monday, police said.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Asghar Ali Shah, unidentified assailants had planted explosive material on the ground floor of a building in Rustam Bazaar, which detonated and targeted Mufti Jina Mir.

Police said forensic evidence had been collected from the scene, while an investigation was underway to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

Sources said Mufti Jina Mir had been actively working for peace and stability in the region and had frequently participated as a speaker in national peace jirgas.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the bombing, and law enforcement authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.

MINGORA: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed on Monday said the suicide bomber involved in the Swat attack had been identified, adding that a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) would be formed to investigate the incident.

Speaking to the media, the IGP said police would provide a compensation package to the families of the martyred personnel. He noted that there had been prior concerns about a possible terrorist attack and said police officers had intercepted the suicide bomber before the explosion occurred.

He said the police were now equipped with modern weapons and pledged further improvements in the force’s operational capabilities. The IGP added that terrorists constantly change locations, making operations more challenging.

Zulfiqar Hameed said authorities had identified the suicide attacker and were also investigating reports about the possible presence of a second suicide bomber. He said security forces were pursuing the militants and would not allow them to reorganize.

Meanwhile, police have registered a case over the suicide bombing. The FIR was lodged at the Counter Terrorism Department police station on the complaint of the Station House Officer (SHO) of Kabal.

In a further development, two more injured police personnel succumbed to their injuries in hospital, raising the death toll from Sunday’s suicide bombing to 17, according to police.

Earlier, funeral prayers for five of the martyred police personnel were offered with full state honours at the Police Training School in Swat. Their bodies were later sent to their native towns for burial.

An Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Monday handed Senator Mushtaq Ahmad and co accused Daniyal over to police on a three day physical remand in connection with a case registered following a protest related to Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The suspects were produced before ATC Duty Judge Rakhshanda Shaheen by Islamabad Police. During the hearing, the prosecution argued that the physical remand was necessary to recover a vehicle and weapons allegedly linked to the case.

The prosecution sought a 30 day physical remand of the accused. However, the court partially accepted the request and granted police a three day physical remand of Senator Mushtaq Ahmad and the other accused.

The case was registered at Shalimar Police Station in Islamabad after a protest held in connection with Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the Tehreek Tahaffuz Aain Pakistan (Movement for the Protection of the Constitution of Pakistan) strongly condemned the registration of the case against its spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai, Senator Mushtaq Ahmad and other participants, describing it as an attack on constitutional and democratic rights.

In a statement, the movement said the case was registered after a peaceful protest held in Islamabad’s F 10 sector to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. It maintained that raising one’s voice in support of Kashmiris was not a crime but a moral, humanitarian and democratic responsibility.

The statement further said that filing criminal cases against peaceful protesters violated the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of Pakistan, particularly the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. It added that any attempt to silence dissenting voices through legal cases, pressure or intimidation was unacceptable.

The movement demanded the immediate withdrawal of the case against Akhunzada Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai, Senator Mushtaq Ahmad and the other participants, and urged the authorities to refrain from interfering with citizens’ constitutional and democratic rights in the future.

It also vowed to continue expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir, stating that its struggle for the protection of the Constitution, the rule of law and democratic rights would not be deterred by legal action or pressure.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to provide vlogger and journalist Asad Toor with details of the allegations against him in connection with a summons issued by the agency.

The NCCIA had issued a notice to Toor on Wednesday as part of an inquiry into the alleged dissemination, transmission and/or public exhibition of false or fake information. The notice directed him to appear before the NCCIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre in Islamabad at 11am on July 31.

Toor challenged the summons in the Islamabad High Court on Thursday, arguing that the NCCIA had failed to fulfil the legal requirements while issuing the notice and had not provided details of the allegations against him.

The petition came up for hearing before Justice Mohammad Azam Khan on Friday. Advocate Attaullah Kundi appeared on behalf of the petitioner.

During the hearing, the court asked the petitioner’s counsel why his client did not appear before the NCCIA and whether he had a defence.

In response, Advocate Kundi told the court that the petitioner was unaware of the exact allegations against him and, therefore, did not know what he was expected to answer.

The counsel submitted that all details and material relating to the allegations should be provided to the petitioner in advance.

Justice Mohammad Azam Khan observed that the petition would be disposed of with directions to the NCCIA to provide the petitioner with all relevant details concerning the allegations.

Advocate Kundi said that providing such details was precisely what the petitioner had requested.

Also Read: NCCIA Summons Senior Journalist Asad Ali Toor in Fresh PECA Inquiry

The Islamabad High Court subsequently disposed of the petition, directing the NCCIA to furnish Asad Toor with details of the allegations against him.

Meanwhile, the National Press Club (NPC) on Wednesday condemned the NCCIA notice issued to Toor and expressed concern over the state of press freedom.

Describing freedom of expression as a constitutional right, the NPC leadership said that subjecting journalists to legal pressure and retaliation for performing their professional duties or expressing critical opinions was not a good sign for any democratic society.

The NPC urged institutions to perform their respective roles in accordance with the law, the Constitution and fundamental human rights.

It stated that free, responsible and safe journalism is the foundation of a strong democratic system and demanded that the notice against Toor be withdrawn and the constitutional and legal rights of journalists be respected.

The NPC also warned against measures that curtail press freedom and create insecurity among the journalist community.