Imran Khan's wife moves to jail: Pakistan court grants request
On Wednesday, a court in Pakistan granted Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, her request to be transferred from house arrest to jail, her lawyer announced.
Previously under house arrest by government order, Bibi petitioned the Islamabad High Court, citing privacy violations and contaminated food at her home cell, which she described as male-dominated—a claim denied by prison staff.
Bibi has been confined to a single room in the couple's hilltop mansion in Islamabad since their January conviction for illegally selling state gifts. Following her request, authorities moved her to Adyala Jail in Rawalpindi, where her husband, the 70-year-old former cricket superstar, is serving a 14-year sentence.
The move was executed shortly after the court's decision, stated Afzaal Ahmad, a local administration official, and Bibi's political party. This shift aims to address criticisms that her home detention was part of a negotiation for government concessions.
Responding to inquiries about potential negotiations with Khan's party, Pakistan Army spokesperson Major General Ahmed Sharif emphasized on Tuesday that discussions were not feasible with a group that had attacked state institutions. He referenced incidents from May 9 last year when Khan's supporters stormed military facilities following his arrest, stating that those responsible must seek forgiveness before any negotiations could begin.
Asad Qaisar, a close aide to Khan, declared on local ARY TV that apologizing was out of the question. Khan, who was ousted from power in 2022, attributes his removal to a military-backed conspiracy, a charge the military has consistently denied.
