In a surprising development, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has distanced itself from a petition filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by Advocate Faisal Hussain Chaudhry on behalf of its founding chairman, Imran Khan. The petition challenges the withdrawal of certain facilities in prison that Khan had been receiving.
Advocate Faisal claimed that the petition was submitted with the consent of PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. However, Gohar Ali Khan refuted this claim on Saturday night, stating that Faisal Chaudhry had filed the petition independently and utilized an outdated wakalatnama (power of attorney) from Imran Khan.
Just a day prior, reports indicated that Faisal Chaudhry had been excluded from the PTI’s legal team. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja instructed him to disassociate himself from all cases related to the party’s founder and subsequently removed him from PTI lawyers’ WhatsApp groups. Gohar confirmed this separation on Saturday night.
In response to the situation, Faisal Chaudhry took to X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that Barrister Gohar is under “immense pressure.”
Internal dynamics within PTI seem to be at play, as allegations surfaced that Faisal Chaudhry, along with Intizar Panjutha, was working to facilitate the return of certain leaders to the party.
It is noteworthy that Faisal’s brother, Fawad Chaudhry, previously served as a cabinet minister under the PTI government but departed from the party amid the crackdown on its leadership following the regime change in 2022.
The Petition
The petition filed in the IHC claims that Imran Khan’s political opponents are intent on undermining his commitment to democracy, the rule of law, the Constitution, and the people of Pakistan. It alleges that he has endured inhumane treatment since October 3, 2024, by prison authorities. The document states that Khan has been denied legal rights and subjected to severe conditions that violate prison regulations.
According to the petition, the former prime minister has faced mental torture due to confinement in a cramped 8×6-foot death cell, where he was not allowed to exercise or walk. The electricity in his cell was reportedly disconnected for several days, forcing him to remain in complete darkness for 12 to 14 hours at a time, compromising his safety and well-being under the unlawful directives of the current government.
The petition also cites reports concerning the poor quality of food provided to Khan, which has resulted in acute stomach pains and vomiting. Additionally, it mentions that he has not received newspapers or any reading material since October 3, isolating him from current events and the ongoing crackdown on his family and supporters.
The petition requests that the high court direct jail authorities to restore proper facilities for Khan, commensurate with his status as a former prime minister.
Indictment in Toshakhana Case
In related news, the indictment of Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Toshakhana case has been postponed once more due to Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand being on leave. The judge was scheduled to formally indict them concerning allegations of retaining an expensive Bulgari jewelry set from Toshakhana at a minimal cost. With the judge unavailable, the court staff has postponed the proceedings until later this month.
The next court session is set to be held in Adiala Jail, influenced by prior security and legal considerations regarding the high-profile case.
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