Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has filed a petition with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the notification that designated her Banigala residence as a sub-jail.
She, in the plea, urged authorities to transfer her to Adiala Jail, where her husband is currently serving a 14-year sentence.
Last week, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were convicted in the Toshakhana reference, accused of retaining expensive jewelry at a nominal price. Subsequently, they received an additional seven-year sentence for contracting marriage during the ‘Iddat’ period.
While Imran remains incarcerated at Adiala Jail, a late-night notification on January 31 transformed Bushra’s Banigala residence into a sub-jail at the request of the jail superintendent.
In the petition filed today, Bushra Bibi expressed her desire to serve her sentence, like any other convict, within the confines of Adiala Jail.
The plea named several respondents, including Islamabad’s chief commissioner, Adiala Jail superintendent, the inspector general of Punjab prisons, and the state.
According to the petition, Bushra was on her way to Adiala Jail on January 31 when she learned of the judgment in the Toshakhana reference.
Upon reaching the prison, she was made to wait from 10 am to 9 pm before being informed of her transfer to another prison.
To her surprise, she was brought to her Banigala residence, which had been declared a sub-jail without her request.
The plea emphasized that Bushra is “ready and willing” to serve her sentence in the designated ordinary jail premises, questioning the validity of the notification that goes against principles of justice and equality under Islam.
Additionally, the petition raised concerns about Bushra’s safety, citing potential security issues and the movement of unidentified individuals around Banigala.
It argued that the impugned notification contradicted the principles of justice and equality, urging the court to set it aside.
Furthermore, the plea highlighted the upcoming hearing of the Al-Qadir Trust case on February 10, stating that transferring Bushra from Banigala to the accountability court would be a “hectic exercise.”
The petition humbly requested the court to set aside the notification and transfer Bushra to Adiala Jail in the interest of justice.
