Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry on Monday told the Senate that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) founder and Bushra Bibi had been facilitated with 84 meetings during their incarceration, while there was no restriction on the PTI founder’s sons travelling to Pakistan as both possessed valid National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPs).
Responding to a point raised by Senator Mashal Azam, the minister said meetings with prisoners were governed by the jail manual, relevant laws and court orders and could not be conducted outside the prescribed legal framework.
He said a three-member bench of the Supreme Court was scheduled to take up a petition concerning the PTI founder’s meetings and medical treatment, adding that the Adiala Jail authorities had submitted a detailed report before the apex court.
The report, he said, contained comprehensive information about the PTI founder’s health, meetings, living conditions and medical facilities being provided to him. Citing the report, Talal Chaudhry said the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi had been provided meetings on 84 occasions.
He said the PTI founder’s conditions in jail and medical care had also previously come under consideration before the Supreme Court, which had nominated a person to visit the prison and examine the situation.
The nominated person subsequently visited the jail and submitted a report, following which the Supreme Court expressed satisfaction over the findings, he added.
The minister said there was a distinction between dealing with the matter in accordance with law and turning it into a political agenda.
He accused PTI of repeatedly spreading rumours about the PTI founder’s health and safety and attempting to generate political sympathy around his incarceration.
Referring to claims concerning the PTI founder’s sons, the minister categorically said there was no restriction preventing them from coming to Pakistan. He said nearly three years had passed but they had not travelled to Pakistan to meet their father despite visiting other countries during this period.
The minister also reiterated the government’s willingness to engage the opposition politically, saying the committee constituted by the prime minister for negotiations remained available and the Speaker’s office could facilitate the process.
He urged the opposition to return to political dialogue rather than seek solutions through agitation, saying political differences should be addressed through Parliament and negotiations.
