Adiala Jail prisoners Ilyas Khan, Muhammad Ismail Khan and Owais Altaf have approached the Islamabad High Court seeking treatment at a private hospital and permission to contact their family members.
Justice Muhammad Asif heard the petitions and issued notices to the Adiala Jail superintendent, directing the jail authorities to submit detailed, para-wise responses. The court adjourned further proceedings until August 27.
Prisoner seeks treatment at Shifa Hospital
Counsel for Muhammad Ismail Khan told the court that his client suffers from hemophilia and is experiencing internal bleeding. According to the lawyer, doctors have taken the prisoner to hospital 10 times over the past two months, but his condition has not improved significantly.
The counsel argued that Shifa Hospital currently provides the treatment required for his client’s condition. He referred to a Supreme Court judgment stating that authorities can transfer a prisoner to a private hospital when the required treatment is unavailable at a government facility, with the family able to bear the medical expenses.
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The lawyer asked the court to order the formation of a medical board and, if necessary, direct the authorities to transfer Muhammad Ismail Khan to Shifa Hospital.
Another prisoner seeks medical care
Lawyer Syed Jafar appeared through video link for Owais Altaf and told the court that his client was suffering from fever and a heart condition.
He argued that prisoners have a fundamental right to receive proper medical treatment. Therefore, he requested an order for Owais Altaf’s transfer to Shifa Hospital if the required treatment was unavailable at a government hospital.
Petition seeks WhatsApp contact with brother
In a separate plea, counsel for Muhammad Ismail Khan said his client had spent nine years in Adiala Jail. The lawyer added that the prisoner’s brother lives in Dubai and that the two had not spoken for several years.
The counsel asked the court to direct jail authorities to facilitate a WhatsApp call between the prisoner and his brother. He argued that Muhammad Ismail Khan should receive similar family-contact rights to those recognised in the Supreme Court’s order concerning PTI founder Imran Khan.
The petitions have been filed in the context of the Supreme Court’s directions regarding Imran Khan’s treatment at a private hospital and meetings with his family.
The three prisoners are seeking comparable relief for medical care and communication with relatives. Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court has sought the Adiala Jail superintendent’s response in all three cases and will resume the proceedings on August 27.
