Couldn't imagine ignoring the court request," he says in answer to scorn notice for resisting court orders
Wednesday, November 08, 2023
Jailer says there is "no permanent facility" for WhatsApp phone calls
"The PCO is available on the phone," says the prison warden.
The superintendent insists he cannot think of disobeying a court order.
ISLAMABAD: The Senior Warden of Adiala Jail on Wednesday asked a court to dismiss a contempt of court petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan against him for violating court orders and not allowing him to talk to his sons on phone. .
The superintendent's request came after he filed his response in a special court, set up under the Official Secrets Act, after being served with a contempt notice a day earlier.
"I can't even think of disobeying a court order," he said in his response.
The superintendent of the court said there was no permanent facility for calling abroad via WhatsApp. He informed the court that the PTI chief had spoken to his children on October 18 after the jail made special arrangements to do so.
He told the court that in a letter issued by the Inspector General of Jails, which relates to an accused under the Official Secrets Act, the PCO's facility for making telephone calls is available.
"Arrangements are being made for prisoners to talk to family and lawyers at the jail PCO," he said, adding that the court may direct the Punjab Home Department to amend the rules regarding phone calls.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned hearing the contempt petition to Monday due to the absence of Justice Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain.
A day earlier, three witnesses gave their evidence against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and party vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in connection with the cipher case.
Judge Zulqarnain presided over the proceedings at Adiala Prison under the Special Secrets Act Court. PTI's counsel included advocates Salman Safdar, Taimur and Gohar Ali Khan, while the special prosecutors were Shah Khawar, Zulfikar Abbas Naqvi and Raja Rizwan Abbasi.
In the meantime, the court summoned three more witnesses for the next hearing, which was adjourned to November 10.
Khan and Qureshi were consulted by legal teams before witness statements and cross-examination were conducted. Besides, the PTI chief met his wife Bushra Bibi and sisters Aleema Khan, Noreen Khanum and Uzma Khan in the jail premises.
Qureshi's daughter Mehrabano was also present in court. She also spoke to the media outside the prison, demanding justice and a fair trial for her father.
"Let the family in; no one can be concerned about the safety of their family. A fair trial is my father's right and as a daughter I have the right to see a trial," she added.
The IHC is asking the government to ensure that the encryption attempt is carried out properly
Meanwhile, Islamabad High Court Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb has asked the Attorney General of Pakistan to ensure that the encryption case trial is not handled improperly or it could collapse like a house of cards.
An IHC bench comprising Justice Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz heard an internal appeal filed by Khan against his jail trial and the appointment of a special court judge in the cipher case.
The Attorney General assured the bench that no rights of the accused in the cipher case would be violated. Meanwhile, the court rejected the request to stay the proceedings in the cipher case without hearing him.
The appellant's counsel, Salman Akram Raja, asked the IHC to order an open trial in the cipher case, arguing that the PTI chief was accused of publishing the contents of the cipher but the same classified document was not part of the charge sheet. when. The court adjourned the case to November 14 after the Attorney General requested time to present arguments.
