Islamabad: On Monday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) released a report from a district and sessions judge detailing his inspection of Attock jail. The report exposed that a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera had been positioned directly in front of the cell belonging to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, thereby invading his privacy.
The report, which focused on the jail inspection conducted on August 15, revealed that the CCTV camera was installed in a manner that completely disregarded the privacy of the former premier and PTI chairman. Imran Khan had been incarcerated at Attock jail since August 5, subsequent to his conviction in the Toshakhana (gift repository) case.
The report by Additional District & Sessions Judge Shafqutullah Khan also brought to light Imran’s complaints about the lack of easy access for his wife and legal representatives during their visits.
According to the report, Imran Khan expressed deep concerns regarding the placement of the CCTV camera, situated directly in front of the prison bars and just a few feet away from the open bathroom and latrine area. The camera’s placement left no privacy for basic activities like bathing and defecation due to the low L-shaped walls that measured around two-and-a-half to three feet in height.
The judge, having visited Imran’s cell, acknowledged the legitimacy of the concerns raised by the prisoner, identifying the situation as a violation of Rules 257 and 771 of the Pakistan Prison Rules of 1978. The report also detailed Imran’s additional grievance that his wife and lawyers struggled to gain convenient access to him.
Following the chairman’s complaint, the judge inquired with the jail superintendent present about the CCTV camera’s positioning and the accessibility for family members and legal representatives.
“The superintendent present there has assured that he will address the prisoner’s grievance,” the inspection report stated, adding that the superintendent also pledged to uphold the prisoner’s access to his wife and lawyers in accordance with the prevailing regulations.
The report noted that during the visit, all essential areas including the barracks for female prisoners, juveniles, under-trial detainees, civil detainees, the kitchen, and the hospital were inspected. Interviews were conducted with the inhabitants in detail.
“No complaints were received; in fact, the inhabitants expressed satisfaction with the provision of basic facilities,” the judge reported.
Simultaneously, the PTI Core Committee vehemently condemned the “inhumane and retaliatory actions” taken by jail authorities against the PTI chairman while he was in Attock jail. The committee underscored that the judge’s report verified the mistreatment of the PTI chairman during his time in Attock jail.
In a meeting, the core committee emphasized that they had long been highlighting the unjust, immoral, and abusive treatment Imran Khan was facing in jail. This treatment was now corroborated by the Additional District & Sessions Judge in his report.
Despite these hardships, the committee highlighted that the PTI chairman remained resilient and unwavering in his principles.
During the meeting, the committee strongly denounced the “unlawful arrest” of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the subsequent ill-treatment he experienced during captivity.
Additionally, the committee deliberated on President Dr. Arif Alvi’s tweet and the ensuing developments concerning the approval of amendments to the Army Act and the Official Secrets Act.
The PTI Core Committee rejected the Ministry of Law’s notification regarding the establishment of a special court to hear cases under the Official Secrets Act.
Participants in the meeting expressed concern over Qureshi’s appearance before the special court and the subsequent closed-door hearing that occurred after the president’s tweet and clear stance. They emphasized that legislative procedures lacking the president’s assent couldn’t be considered finalized.
The committee announced its intention to approach the Supreme Court to address the critical constitutional and state crisis.
During the meeting, the committee also examined various aspects of the appeal against the PTI chairman’s sentence in the Toshakhana case, as well as his appeal in the Islamabad High Court, scheduled for Tuesday.
The committee reaffirmed its demand for the establishment of a high-powered judicial commission to investigate the code in order to uncover the truth for the nation.
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