Pakistan demands enforcement of court rulings on Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi
In Lahore, Pakistan, lawyer Azhar Siddique, associated with the PTI party, filed a constitutional petition against the federal government, the Punjab authorities, prison administration and other officials. The document demands the immediate and full implementation of court rulings concerning imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi.
As Dawn reports, the petition concerns an Islamabad High Court decision of September 1 and an interim Supreme Court order of August 18. They concern meetings with family, communication with children, physical exercise, meaningful interaction with other people, access to newspapers, books and other reading materials, as well as the provision of a functioning television set in accordance with prison rules and medical recommendations.
Claim of non-compliance with the ruling
The constitutional petition states that the Supreme Court also ordered Imran Khan to be transferred to Shifa International Hospital within two days, but the authorities did not do so. The document's authors said that both court rulings must be implemented consistently and in full, without selectively enforcing individual provisions.
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At the time the petition was filed, a hearing on a contempt of court petition related to Imran Khan's hospital visit had already been scheduled for September 16. It is to be heard by a three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Shahid Waheed, Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Ishtiaq Ibrahim.
Legal grounds
The petition cited Articles 4, 9, 14 and 35 of Pakistan's Constitution, the Prisons Act of 1894 and the Pakistan Prison Rules of 1978. It also mentioned the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Nelson Mandela Rules and the Convention against Torture.
The document warns that further non-compliance, evasion or weakening of court directives may prompt the prisoners and petitioners to approach the Islamabad High Court and the Supreme Court over contempt of court, as well as to use other constitutional legal remedies.
