National ( The cow news digital ) The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has dismissed a petition seeking permission for a meeting with former prime minister Imran Khan, terming it unnecessary, frivolous, and without merit. The court also imposed a fine of PKR 10,000 on the petitioner for wasting judicial time.
The decision was announced in connection with a request filed by a lawyer seeking a meeting with Imran Khan in relation to the ongoing proceedings of the 9 May GHQ attack case. According to the court’s remarks, such applications have been repeatedly filed despite clear procedural guidelines already established by the Islamabad High Court regarding meetings in Adiala Jail.
The court further observed that the procedure for meeting prisoners in Adiala Jail has already been clearly defined, and no trial court is authorized to issue orders that contradict the established framework set by the superior judiciary. It emphasized that consistency in judicial instructions is necessary to avoid confusion and procedural conflict.
Officials noted that Imran Khan is currently on bail in the GHQ attack case and is not in judicial custody, which further weakens the basis of repeated meeting requests through the trial court. The bench also highlighted that similar applications had been filed earlier, which were dismissed on comparable grounds.
The court concluded that the petitioner had approached the wrong forum and unnecessarily consumed judicial resources. It directed the imposed fine to be deposited in the dispensary of the District Bar Association Rawalpindi, stating that the amount should be used for the treatment of underprivileged patients.
Legal experts say the ruling reflects the judiciary’s continued emphasis on procedural discipline in high-profile political cases, especially those involving sensitive security-related charges. The court reiterated that litigants must follow established legal channels rather than seeking repeated interventions from different courts on the same issue.
The case continues to attract public attention as multiple petitions related to meeting permissions and procedural access in jail hearings remain pending or are being filed across different courts. Authorities maintain that compliance with the existing judicial framework is essential for orderly proceedings.
read more
- Pakistan, Taliban, and Afghanistan: The Complex Triangle of Influence
- Imran Khan and the Politics of Idolization
Observers note that the Islamabad High Court’s earlier directives continue to serve as the primary reference for handling visitation rights in custody-related matters, reducing the likelihood of conflicting orders from subordinate courts.
Further hearings in related matters are expected to clarify procedural boundaries for future applications. Legal proceedings will continue in accordance with established judicial protocols. Authorities stressed procedural compliance.
