IHC issues notices on K-P CM’s petition to meet Imran Khan

IHC issues notices on K-P CM’s petition to meet Imran Khan

Islamabad, 21 October 2025 – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted significant procedural leeway to the petition filed by Sohail Afridi, Chief Minister of Khyber‑Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), seeking a meeting with Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI), who is currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail. The court removed the registrar’s initial objections and issued notices to all concerned parties, setting responses to be submitted by 23 October.

Background

• Afridi filed his petition on 17 October 2025, only two days after being sworn in as K-P Chief Minister on 15 October.
• He had attempted to meet Imran Khan on 16 October, after obtaining protective bail from the Peshawar High Court, but his request was denied by the jail authorities.
• In the petition, Afridi asserted that consultation with Imran Khan was essential for forming his provincial cabinet and making key administrative decisions.

What the court did

• Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir presided over the hearing and accepted the argument that the registrar’s objections regarding maintainability of the petition were unfounded, given that the provincial cabinet had not yet been formed.
• The court issued notices to:
  • The Federal Interior Secretary
  • The Secretary of the Punjab Home Department
  • The Inspector General of Prisons (Punjab)
  • The Superintendent of Adiala Jail
    These officials are directed to respond by 23 October.

Key arguments & counterpoints

• Afridi’s position: He argues that the people of K-P—around 45 million in population—voted overwhelmingly for PTI and that his administration must coordinate with the party founder to reflect the mandate.
• Registrar’s objection: Initially, the IHC registrar’s office flagged the petition as problematic, citing that similar matters have been previously adjudicated with set SOPs for jail visits, and wondered why the petition did not follow the established process.
• Court’s view: The court found the objections about cabinet approval and process lack merit since the cabinet was not yet in place and the petition raised legitimate administrative‐governance concerns.

Implications

• This case may set precedent for how high‐profile jail meetings—especially those with political undertones—are treated by courts.
• For Afridi’s government, gaining access to Imran Khan could solidify his political standing and facilitate his cabinet’s formation with PTI oversight.
• The federal and Punjab authorities will now be under pressure to present their ground for denying or allowing the meeting, thus bringing transparency to the process of jail visitation.
• Politically, the move underscores the continuing influence of Imran Khan and PTI, and the challenges faced by provincial executives who rely on party leadership despite institutional constraints.

Next Steps

• The concerned officials must submit their replies by 23 October.
• Following the responses, the IHC is likely to schedule further proceedings to examine the merits of the petition, the legal basis for the meeting request, and whether a special SOP should apply.
• Observers will watch to see whether the meeting is eventually granted, under what conditions, and what political fallout it may generate across provinces and the federal sphere.

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