Startling plan ahead: the government intends to move Imran Khan from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi to the newly built Islamabad prison within two months. The move would mark the first time a jail in the federal capital becomes available to house a high-profile detainee.
During a Friday ceremony marking the Islamabad Police’s passing-out, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that once the Islamabad facility is ready, Imran Khan will be relocated there. He stated, “The Islamabad jail will be completed within two months. All medical facilities are available inside the jail. Since Imran Khan was sentenced by a court in Islamabad, he will be moved to Islamabad Jail.” Khan has been held at Adiala Jail since September 2023.
Separately, the federal government assured the Supreme Court on Thursday that Khan would receive access to eye specialists for a fresh medical assessment and would be allowed telephonic contact with his sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, amid concerns about his eye health in custody.
Salman Safdar, acting as amicus curiae for the Supreme Court, met Khan at Adiala Jail on Tuesday. The following day he submitted a seven-page report detailing Khan’s living conditions in custody. The report quoted Khan as saying that, despite treatment including an injection, his vision in the right eye had deteriorated to only 15 percent. This revelation intensified concerns over Khan’s health and sparked claims from the PTI that he has faced solitary confinement in violation of national and international law.
Interior Minister Naqvi described the development as a significant milestone for the federal police. He noted that a dedicated counterterrorism force had been lacking, and praised officers for launching and completing an intensive six-month training program in just three months through continuous effort. He credited the personnel for their hard work and the swift completion of the course.
What this means going forward is a topic many readers will have strong opinions about: does relocating a high-profile detainee to a new facility improve fairness and transparency, or does it raise questions about political leverage and public accountability? Share your thoughts on whether such transfers help or hinder due process, and whether there should be more independent oversight of custody conditions in cases involving prominent political figures.
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