LAHORE: The Punjab Advocate General on Wednesday informed the Lahore High Court that an amount of Rs1.2 million per month was being spent on the expenses of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in jail.
The AGP made the revelation during the hearing of a petition by a single judge of the Lahore High Court (LHC), comprising Chief Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan. The petition was filed by PTI Lawyers Forum President Afzaal Azeem Pahat seeking the provision of foolproof security for his party’s founder Imran Khan in jail.
The petitioner argued that the Adiala jail authorities had banned meetings with former Prime Minister Imran Khan due to security concerns. He said the life of the PTI founder was in danger in the jail, requesting the court to order to provision of foolproof security to Mr Khan in the jail.
During the hearing, the lawyer for the petitioner said that the Advocate General had shown grace that he would give an update on the matter, on which the Advocate General Punjab (AGP) told the court that he had collected information and brought with him.
The AGP stated that Imran Khan had been kept in one cell and six cells around that very cell had been kept empty as security measure, which were also reserved for him. “Therefore, all the seven calls are allocated to Mr Khan”, he added.
The AGP continued that there was one security officer for 10 prisoners each in the Adiala Jail. However, in case of Imran Khan, 14 security officers have been appointed solely for him. The former prime minister’s food is cooked in a special kitchen where no food is cooked for anybody else”, he added.
On this, the lawyer of PTI founder said: “We are happy with what the Advocate General Punjab has shared.”
The AGP continued to say that they had also installed CCTV cameras worth R500,000 for security of Khan and his monthly expense was amounting to Rs1.2 million.
To which, PTI lawyer Asad Manzoor raised the point that the PTI founder was not allowed to meet his wife and the latter had filed an application in this regard.
During the argument, Chief Justice Malik Shehzad remarked that “there was no need to be loyal to the king more than the king, this is a very important matter, we cannot allow everyone in it.”
The LHC CJ further said: “We respect the petitioner Afzaal Pahat. There are PTI supporter all over the country, but we do not know who are in the party.”
Later, the court adjourned the plea for further hearing till after Eid.
