ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the maintainability of petitions challenging the alleged solitary confinement of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, a day after removing the registrar office’s objections to the petitions.

While appearing before Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, Barrister Salman Safdar said he would first assist the court on the petition filed by Bushra Bibi’s daughter, Mubashara Khawar Maneka. However, he said, he also had to appear before a division bench later in the day due to which he sought to conclude his submissions expeditiously.

Justice Soomro remarked with a smile: “We have also sacrificed our tea.”

The petitions were filed by Aleema Khan on behalf of the PTI founder and by Mubashara on behalf of Bushra Bibi.

Barrister Safdar argued that both the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the IHC had previously relied on the Begum Shamim Afridi case while dealing with issues relating to solitary confinement.

Prosecutor denies couple in solitary confinement; petitioner’s counsel tells him to stick to NAB role instead of defending jail authorities

Referring to objections raised by the NAB prosecutor during proceedings in the £190 million case appeals, the counsel denied having previously sought any relief regarding solitary confinement. He further argued that Bushra’s case was unprecedented, describing it as the first instance in Pakistan where a female prisoner was allegedly being held in prolonged solitary confinement. He said that after her conviction, she had initially been shifted to Bani Gala and confined to a room, adding that no trial or remand proceedings were pending against her.

When Justice Soomro asked whether he had recently met his clients, the counsel replied that he had met the PTI founder during a court-authorised visit but had not been allowed to meet Bushra Bibi for the past seven months.

Citing an earlier judgement of Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb concerning Bushra Bibi, Barrister Safdar argued that despite the passage of time, the situation had remained unchanged.

He said Bushra Bibi, too, had been confined alone for 24 hours a day, despite both husband and wife having undergone eye surgeries.

While seeking to address the maintainability of the petitions, NAB prosecutor Rafay Maqsood contended that the earlier judgement of Justice Aurangzeb was distinguishable, as it had been filed by Bushra Bibi herself, whereas the present petitions had been instituted by her daughter and the PTI founder’s sister.

Responding to a query from the bench, the NAB prosecutor categorically denied that either prisoner was being held in solitary confinement. “There is no solitary confinement, absolutely not,” he told the court.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2026