ISLAMABAD: The Punjab Home Ministry on Tuesday imposed a two-week ban on inmate visits and media coverage at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. The prison houses high profile political figures including PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.
Since the February 8 polls, the prison has become the center of several meetings between the jailed former PTI chief and party leaders as well as its allies, who have sought consultations with the former prime minister on the party’s political course.
In the orders issued to the Punjab IG, the department claimed that the decision was taken based on a “threat alert” issued to the jail by law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies.
The internal security wing of the ministry reported that the terrorists, who have the support of anti-state groups, wanted to target the prison to spread chaos in the country. It was therefore important for the department to take necessary measures to prevent such incidents.
According to sources, the ministry has directed the Special Branch, Intelligence and Prisons Department to conduct a security survey of the prison on March 13 (tomorrow). He also directed the installation of barbed wire around the border wall and the shielding of the prison premises and adjacent areas by a bomb disposal squad.
As per Home Ministry guidelines, government contractors and staff employed at the jail will also undergo security clearance by the police and Rangers along with mock emergency drills.
The ban will apply to all inmates in the jail, including former prime minister Imran, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and PTI president Parvez Elahi.
MWM files contempt plea
Earlier today, the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) filed a contempt case in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the Warden of Adiala Jail for denying the party chief and other members a meeting with the PTI founding chairman a day earlier. The suit was filed by party chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
Allama Nasir, speaking to the media after filing the case, said that the jail authorities did not allow him to meet Imran despite a court order issued in this regard on March 8. He added that prison guards kept him waiting from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on March 11.
The MWM boss lamented how the situation in the country is “worse than a jungle”. “Even the jungle has more laws,” he declared.
PTI leaders turned away
Last month, several PTI leaders, including those elected in the February 8 general elections, were turned away by the Adiala jail when they reached there for a meeting with the party’s founder.
The leaders said they have a court order to meet Imran to discuss the prevailing situation and the unfolding political developments in the country. However, the prison authorities refused to obey the court orders.
Jail authorities allowed only five PTI leaders – Barrister Ali Zafar, Barrister Umair Niazi, Ali Bukhari, Shadab Jafari and Barrister Ahmed Owais to meet Imran, while others were denied permission to meet.
Those who were not allowed to meet Imran included PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, Chief Organizer Omar Ayub, former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, former Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Qayyum Niazi, besides other party leaders Atif Khan, Shahram Tarakai, Sher Afzal Marwat and Seembia Tahir.
Qaiser said: “There has been a major development in the country. Therefore, it is necessary that the top leadership of the party consult with the founder of PTI. People have given PTI founder a big mandate.”
