ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that a clause preventing prisoners from discussing politics with their visitors is unconstitutional.

Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan held that this restriction infringes on the fundamental right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Pakistan’s constitution.

This decision followed an incident where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders were prohibited from engaging in political discussions with their jailed founder, Imran Khan, at Adiala Jail. PTI’s Sher Afzal Marwat subsequently filed a petition to annul Section 265 of the jail rules, which imposed this restriction.

The court dismissed the Advocate General’s objections on the petition’s maintainability and issued directives accordingly.

Despite a three-month notice, the Punjab government failed to respond. Previously, Marwat challenged a separate ban by the Punjab home department that restricted meetings with Imran Khan at Adiala Jail, citing security concerns.

Marwat argued in the IHC that the provincial home department lacked the authority to enforce such a ban, requesting the court to declare it void.

He further warned that parliamentarians would protest if the ban on meeting with the party leader was not lifted.