3 more Adiala inmates seek private care

Islamabad's Adiala jail has seen three inmates request private hospital care and increased family access, in response to the Supreme Court's recent directive for former Prime Minister Imran Khan's transfer to a private facility for medical examination. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has taken up these petitions, which echo the government's concerns that a similar precedent could be set for other prisoners.

The federal government has argued that granting convicts private treatment could disrupt the prison system and open the door for a "floodgate" of similar requests. The case is now before the IHC, with Justice Muhammad Asif seeking input from the jail superintendent on the petitions filed by Ilyas Khan, Muhammad Ismail Khan, and Owais Altaf.

During the hearing, Barrister Akhtar Chheena on Ismail Khan's behalf stated that his client suffers from haemophilia and has experienced internal bleeding. He argued that the prisoner's condition has not improved despite multiple hospital visits over the past two months, and that specialized treatment can only be accessed at Shifa International Hospital.

Chheena requested the court to form a medical board to determine if the necessary treatment is available within government hospitals, questioning whether prisoners should be denied access to private facilities when essential procedures, like liver transplants, are unavailable in government hospitals. Owais Altaf's lawyer, Syed Jafar, also appeared via video link and argued that receiving proper medical treatment is a fundamental right for prisoners, asserting that the required treatment is not accessible in government facilities.

The counsel sought an order for Owais Altaf's transfer to Shifa International Hospital for treatment. Ismail Khan also requested permission to communicate with his brother, currently living in Dubai, and sought facilitation of communication between the prisoner and his brother by the jail authorities. The IHC has adjourned proceedings until August 27th.