Dr Uzma Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan, has submitted a fresh contempt of court petition to the Supreme Court, accusing authorities of disregarding the court’s directives concerning the former prime minister’s access to his family. The petition, filed through advocate Uzair Karamat Bhandari, highlights the failure to implement the Supreme Court’s August 18 interim order, which mandated weekly family meetings and twice-weekly phone calls with Imran Khan’s sons, Qasim and Sulaiman.
Uzma Khan pointed out that the order had not been fully observed. Within the two weeks following the ruling, Imran Khan was permitted to meet only one sister, Noreen Niazi, on August 18 and 25, while other family members, including Uzma herself, were denied visits. Furthermore, the petition stated that Imran Khan had been barred from speaking to his sons by phone, with no communication allowed since March.
She emphasized that the Supreme Court’s order was clear and straightforward, requiring no further clarification, and insisted that the authorities were legally obligated to comply in both letter and spirit. Uzma requested the Supreme Court to initiate contempt proceedings against those responsible for the non-compliance.
The petition names Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajjad Baig, Punjab Police Inspector General, the interior secretary, and the Islamabad Chief Commissioner as respondents. This latest petition marks Uzma’s second contempt plea regarding the alleged disregard of court orders related to Imran Khan’s family access. The Supreme Court registrar’s office previously denied an early hearing for her first petition. The second petition was also rejected on Tuesday, while a three-member bench scheduled September 16 to hear the initial contempt petition.
Imran Khan has been held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since August 2023, with ongoing legal disputes over restrictions on his meetings with family and lawyers. Earlier, the Islamabad High Court had permitted Imran Khan to meet family members, lawyers, and other relevant individuals twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Supreme Court’s August 18 interim order further directed the provision of medical examinations, weekly family meetings, and twice-weekly calls with his sons.
This dispute unfolds against the backdrop of a previous Islamabad High Court ruling addressing the treatment and isolation of Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, at Adiala Jail. In a detailed 24-page judgment, IHC Judge Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro declared their solitary confinement unlawful and ordered jail authorities to restore family access, medical care, and other fundamental rights.
The judgment came after constitutional petitions filed by Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khanum and Bushra Bibi’s daughter Mubashra Khawar Maneka, who challenged the isolation, denial of legal access, and inadequate medical supervision of the prisoners. The court ruled that imprisonment restricts personal liberty but does not eliminate constitutional protections related to life, human dignity, and protection from unauthorized executive actions under Articles 4, 9, and 14 of the Constitution.
The court found that keeping Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in solitary confinement without judicial authorization violated the Pakistan Penal Code, Prisons Act 1894, and Pakistan Prison Rules 1978. The Adiala jail superintendent was instructed to prevent unlawful isolation and to allow meetings with family and spouses prison regulations. Officials were also ordered to facilitate scheduled audio and video WhatsApp calls between Imran Khan and his sons, intended strictly for private family communication. Any suspension of this facility required objective evidence of misuse and written justification.
Medical boards at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences had noted Imran Khan’s severe anxiety, blood pressure fluctuations, and stress linked to prolonged isolation. Consequently, the court mandated at least one hour of daily walking and exercise for him. Additionally, jail authorities were directed to provide newspapers, magazines, books, and a working television, consistent with medical advice. Books on Allama Iqbal, Islamic history, science, and Seerat-un-Nabi (PBUH) were to be delivered after routine security checks.
Similar protections were extended to Bushra Bibi. The jail superintendent was ordered to submit a compliance report to the IHC Deputy Registrar within 15 days. Uzma Khan’s latest petition now brings the alleged failure to enforce the Supreme Court’s recent orders directly before the apex court, which will hear her initial contempt petition on September 16.
