Pakistan court reserves verdict on prisoners' pleas for private hospital care, WhatsApp calls

The Islamabad High Court is considering whether prisoners should have access to private hospital care and communication with families via WhatsApp, highlighting a potential expansion of inmate rights in Pakistan.

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prisoners’ rights could not be ignored merely because they were behind bars.

Justice Muhammad Asif reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from petitioners and government representatives. The petitions were filed by three Adiala jail prisoners, Owais Altaf, Ilyas Khan, and Muhammad Ismail, who claim essential medical facilities are lacking in government hospitals. They also seek permission for WhatsApp calls to relatives.

The case has gained prominence following the Supreme Court's August order to transfer PTI founder Imran Khan to a private hospital for medical examination. The petitioners' counsel argued that this relief should not be exclusive to Khan, asserting that all prisoners are citizens entitled to equal treatment under the law. "Why can the relief given by the Supreme Court not be extended to a common prisoner?" the counsel questioned.

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Why can the relief given by the Supreme Court not be extended to a common prisoner?

One petitioner, Muhammad Ismail, an undertrial prisoner for six months, suffers from a heart ailment. His lawyer alleged the jail superintendent rejected a treatment request without consulting a doctor. The court cautioned authorities, stating they "could not play with the illness of a prisoner." The issue of communication was also raised, with the court questioning the prohibition on prisoners speaking to their families.

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could not play with the illness of a prisoner