Pakistan: Imran Khan's sister files fresh contempt plea over denied jail visits

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's sister Uzma Khan on Wednesday filed a fresh contempt of court petition in the Supreme Court, alleging non-enforcement of previous judicial directives issued by the country's apex court.In her petition, Uzma named several high-ranking officials, including Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and Adiala (Rawalpindi Central Jail) Superintendent Sajid Baig, as respondents.According to the Express Tribune, the petition was filed after the Supreme Court's August 18 instructions, which mandated virtual communication between Imran Khan and his sons, alongside weekly access for his sisters, failed to materialise.The plea said that Uzma Khan was denied a scheduled visit on Tuesday and noted that audio communication with his sons has remained restricted since March.The petition alleged that authorities neglected to establish the necessary infrastructure enabling bi-weekly telephone calls with his sons, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan, as previously ordered by the bench.Earlier, Uzma had filed another contempt application addressing government non-compliance regarding a separate instruction within the August 18 order, which directed that Imran Khan be moved to Shifa International Hospital for medical care.Under the original August 18 decision, the Supreme Court instructed that the former premier be transferred to Shifa International Hospital for clinical evaluation by a multidisciplinary medical panel while simultaneously granting visitation rights.Following the orders, authorities transferred Imran Khan to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on August 21. He was, however, sent back to Adiala Jail shortly after medical personnel declared him to be "medically fit".Reacting to the developments, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lambasted prison administrators for barring relatives from seeing the party founder, characterising the restrictions as a flagrant breach of mandates issued by both the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court, as reported by another Pakistan-based daily, Dawn.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.