Pakistan: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the political party led by former cricket star Imran Khan, has filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking the transfer of their party chairman from Attock Jail to Adiala Jail, according to the Geo news.

The petition argues that Imran Khan, given his “education, habits, and social and political status,” deserves better facilities while in custody. Imran Khan was arrested on August 5, after a district and sessions court in the federal capital convicted him of corrupt practices in connection with the Toshakhana case.

The PTI’s petition highlights Imran Khan’s background to support their plea for better jail conditions. It emphasizes that Imran Khan comes from an affluent family and has received an education from Oxford University, UK.

He is also a renowned cricket personality, having captained Pakistan’s national cricket team. The petition argues that considering Imran Khan’s social and political standing and accustomed lifestyle, he is entitled to A-class facilities under the Pakistan Prison Rules.

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Imran Khan’s lawyer, Naeem Haider Panjotha, who filed the petition, raised concerns about the conditions in which Imran Khan is being held. According to the petition, Imran Khan is currently confined to a small cell measuring 9 x 11 feet. The lawyer has requested that Imran Khan’s legal team, personal physician, and family members be allowed to meet him during his detention.

The petition also highlights the importance of Dr. Faisal Sultan, Imran Khan’s physician for the past 25 years, in overseeing the petitioner’s health conditions. It states that due to Imran Khan’s previous injuries, including a fall in 2013 and bullet injuries sustained during the Wazirabad attack, access to Dr. Sultan is essential.

The PTI’s petition goes further, requesting the court to declare Imran Khan’s stay in Attock Jail as “illegal” and to order his transfer to Adiala Jail. The Islamabad High Court will now decide on the merit of the PTI’s plea.

Following Imran Khan’s arrest, PTI called for peaceful protests within the bounds of the law and Constitution. They also urged the Supreme Court to hear their review petition, challenging the maintainability of the Toshakhana case.

This recent arrest is not the first time Imran Khan has faced legal troubles. In May 2023, he was arrested in Islamabad in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case. The political atmosphere in Pakistan remains charged as PTI continues to rally support for its leader and questions the court’s decisions.