Govt plans to shift Imran to Islamabad

ISLAMABAD:

The PML-N led federal government plans to transfer former prime minister Imran Khan from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail to the Islamabad prison, which is expected to complete in two months. At present there is no jail facility in the federal capital.

Addressing the passing-out ceremony of the Islamabad Police on Friday, Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi stated once the Islamabad jail is completed, Imran Khan will be transferred there.

“The Islamabad jail will be completed within two months. All medical facilities are available inside the jail. Since Imran Khan was sentenced by a court in Islamabad, he will be moved to Islamabad Jail,” he said. The PTI founder has been detained at Adiala Jail since September 2023.

The federal government on Thursday assured the Supreme Court that Imran Khan would be provided access to specialist eye doctors for a fresh medical assessment and allowed telephonic contact with his sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, amid growing concerns over his deteriorating eyesight in custody.

Salman Safdar Advocate met Imran at Adiala Jail on Tuesday as Supreme Court’s amicus curiae. A day later, he submitted a seven-page report detailing the former PM’s living conditions in the jail.

In the report, he quoted Imran as saying that “despite the treatment administered (including an injection), he has been left with only 15pc vision in his right eye”.

The report sparked widespread concern about the ex-PM’s health who, the PTI claimed, was subjected to solitary confinement in violation of national and international laws.

The interior minister said it was a very important day for the federal police.

“We did not previously have a dedicated force to combat terrorism. We started this initiative three months ago. Although the course duration was six months, it was completed in three months through day-and-night efforts. Credit goes to the officers who trained them,” he said.