IHC reserves Bushra Bibi’s Bani Gala transfer plea

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reserved its verdict on Bushra Bibi’s petition seeking her transfer from the Bani Gala sub-jail to the Adiala jail.

The verdict was reserved by IHC Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb after hearing the arguments on Thursday.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s spouse was placed under house arrest at her residence in Bani Gala on January 31, following her conviction in the infamous Toshakhana case.

The authorities had declared the Bani Gala residence a “sub-jail” at the request of Adiala jail superintendent.

However, back in February she had challenged the authorities’ move to imprison her at Bani Gala to serve a 14-year sentence in the case.

In the petition Bushra Bibi maintained that like other political workers of the party, she was ready and willing to serve her sentence in the “Ordinary Jail Premises at Adiala Jail, rather than at her residence.

‘Arguments’

Her counsel, Usman Riaz Gul, told the judge that at the time of the sentencing, she was not present in the court, adding that she surrendered herself and was transferred to Bani Gala on the orders of the chief commissioner.

He stated that the superintendent of the jail issued the order for Bani Gala, and the transfer took place immediately. The Bani Gala residence was designated as a sub-jail under the Prison Act, he added.

Bushra Bibi’s counsel maintained that his client was sent to Adiala Jail on the orders of the trial court, and later, on the instructions of the Ministry of Interior, the chief commissioner issued an unlawful notification of the transfer.

The applicant’s lawyer further contended that there was no instruction regarding the transfer of Bushra Bibi from Adiala Jail to Bani Gala, adding that the notification the chief commissioner issued regarding the transfer was illegal.

After the conclusion of Bushra Bibi’s lawyer’s arguments, the state lawyer commenced his arguments.

The judge asked him to tell how many women-prisoners were detained in the Adiala Jail after the sentence to Bushra Bibi.

The state lawyer responded that 141 women-prisoners were taken in. After the completion of arguments from both parties, the IHC judge reserved his decision on Bushra Bibi’s petition.