The superintendent of Adiala jail informed the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday that requests for family visits and meetings with Bushra Bibi’s personal doctor were refused due to concerns about political discussions arising from such visits.
In a written response submitted to the court, the jail superintendent highlighted that conversations following meetings had been exploited for political purposes outside the prison premises. He pointed specifically to social media activity following family visits, which raised issues related to security and prison administration.
The hearing, presided over by IHC Judge Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, addressed a petition filed by Bushra Bibi’s daughter. The plea sought permission for family meetings, access to a personal physician, and provision of essential items for Bushra Bibi.
During the proceedings, the jail superintendent explained that all meetings at Adiala jail were regulated prison rules, and no immediate approval had been granted for the requested visits. Advocate General Naveed Hayat Malik also represented the government before the court.
Salman Akram Raja, counsel for the petitioner, contested the justification for denying the meetings, arguing that the restrictions were based on social media posts allegedly made by a third party. He questioned the legal grounds for barring access and noted that Bushra Bibi’s sister had not visited the jail, emphasizing that third-party online posts should not prevent meetings with her daughter.
The court noted the complexity of the issue and requested the advocate general to consider obtaining an official undertaking regarding the matter. Officials informed the court that Adiala jail currently accommodates approximately 7,200 inmates, with visitation schedules organized the nature of offenses. Visits are conducted six days a week under a structured prison management system.
The jail superintendent assured that all visits are carried out following the prison manual, supported by a formal monitoring mechanism. Justice Tahir observed that the visitation system seemed well-organized and expressed the court’s intent to understand its procedures thoroughly before delivering a final ruling.
He stressed the importance of fairness and adherence to prison regulations, cautioning against making premature decisions. The court further directed officials to facilitate a meeting between Bushra Bibi and her daughter wherever feasible.
The hearing was adjourned until May 14 for further consideration. Previously, the Islamabad High Court had summoned the Adiala jail superintendent to appear in person concerning the plea for Bushra Bibi’s access to a private doctor and family visits.
