Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan,formally conveyed her concerns to the home secretary Punjab about her husband’s well-being who is currently incarcerated at District Jail Attock.
Imran Khan was convicted by an Islamabad trial court on August 5 for concealing details of state gifts and subsequently sentenced to a three-year prison term and sent to the Attock prison.
In a letter dated August 17, Bushra Bibi urgently requested the transfer of her husband from District Jail Attock to Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. Her concerns stem from the fear that Imran Khan might be subjected to poisoning while in custody.
She cited two previous attacks on him, including one where he was shot, as evidence of potential danger to his life.
Bushra Bibi’s letter also questioned the rationale behind Imran Khan’s detention at Attock jail, emphasizing the absence of clear justification. She pointed out that he is entitled to B-Class facilities within the jail due to his esteemed background as the former captain of Pakistan’s national cricket team, his education at Oxford University, and his past role as Prime Minister.
Bushra Bibi criticized the jail authorities for not providing even the basic amenities, which she believes is in violation of her husband’s fundamental rights.
She highlighted the fact that Imran Khan has been denied homemade food, a right guaranteed by the prison rules. She criticized the delay in providing any facilities, stating that it reflects poorly on the leader of the country’s largest political party. Bushra Bibi appealed to the provincial home secretary for a comprehensive legal inquiry into the legality of Imran Khan’s detention within their jurisdiction.
Among her requests, she insisted on the prompt provision of B-Class facilities, the option for Imran Khan to have home-cooked meals, and the ability to consult with his personal physician.
Imran Khan’s lawyer, Naeem Haider Panjutha, has been vocal about the alleged subpar conditions in which his client is being held. After meeting with Imran Khan on August 7, Panjutha shared that the former Prime Minister is confined to a small, dimly lit, C-Class room meant for manual laborers. The room reportedly lacks adequate sanitation facilities and is plagued by flies and insects.
