ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday directed jail authorities to arrange a meeting between PTI founder Imran Khan and senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja. A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued the directions while hearing a petition seeking to block Imran Khan’s X (formerly Twitter) account.
The judge issued the directive after Raja informed the court that he had been unable to meet his client despite earlier verbal orders by the IHC’s full bench. “I can only respond after discussing the matter with him,” Raja told the court. During the hearing, the Deputy Attorney General sought time to file report on behalf of Respondent No.1-NCCIA. Salman Akram Raja submitted that he intended to meet Imran Khan, so as to obtain instructions in the instant matter and then assist this Court; however, the prison authorities did not facilitate such meeting, despite the fact that his name was included in the list duly approved by persons authorized in this regard. Justice Arbab noted in his written order that a Full Bench of this Court, vide order dated 24.03.2025 passed in Criminal Original No.09 of 2025, had approved the mechanism/schedule of meetings/interviews already settled in ICA No.336/2023 and ICAs No.79, 80 and 81 of 2024.
He added, “As per the learned counsel, Tuesday is the scheduled day of meeting with respondent No.4, therefore, the learned Deputy Attorney General shall convey to the prison authorities to ensure meeting of learned counsel i.e. Salman Akram Raja with respondent No.4 for the purposes of obtaining instructions in the instant case.” Justice Arbab directed the Deputy Attorney General and the state counsel to immediately notify jail officials by phone to ensure the meeting.
After issuing the aforementioned directions, the IHC bench deferred hearing of the case till December 9 for further proceedings.
