ISLAMABAD(National Times)- At least three inmates of Adiala jail have approached the Islamabad High Court seeking treatment at private hospitals and greater access to their families, following the Supreme Court’s recent order directing authorities to shift former prime minister Imran Khan to a private hospital for medical examination and treatment.
The petitions before the IHC vindicate the government’s concern that the SC order in Imran Khan’s case could set a precedent for other prisoners to seek similar relief.
The federal government, in its review petition before the Supreme Court, had argued that allowing a convict to receive treatment at a private hospital could disturb the existing prison system and trigger a “floodgate” of similar applications from other prisoners.
The issue is now before the IHC, where Justice Muhammad Asif sought comments from the jail superintendent on petitions filed by prisoners Ilyas Khan, Muhammad Ismail Khan and Owais Altaf. The court also issued notices to prison authorities, and adjourned proceedings until Aug 27.
During the hearing, Barrister Akhtar Chheena, representing Ismail Khan, said his client was suffering from haemophilia and had developed internal bleeding. He submitted that the prisoner had been taken to hospital around 10 times in the last two months, but his condition had not improved.
According to the counsel, treatment for the particular condition was presently possible only at Shifa International Hospital. He relied upon the SC’s recent ruling and argued that where a disease could not be treated at a government hospital, a prisoner could be shifted to a private facility, with the family bearing the cost of treatment.
The counsel requested the court to constitute a medical board to determine whether the required treatment was available at a government hospital. He questioned whether a prisoner should be denied access to a private facility if a necessary procedure, including a liver transplant, was not available at a government hospital.
The petition filed by Owais Altaf was also pressed before Justice Muhammad Asif. His lawyer, Syed Jafar, appeared through video link and submitted that the prisoner was suffering from fever and a heart ailment.
He argued that receiving proper medical treatment was a fundamental right of a prisoner and maintained that the required treatment was not available at a government facility. The counsel consequently sought an order for Owais Altaf’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital for treatment.
In another plea, Ismail Khan sought permission to communicate with his brother, who has been living in Dubai. The counsel requested that the jail authorities be directed to facilitate communication between the prisoner and his brother.
