IHC Dismisses Petitions Seeking Private Hospital Treatment, Overseas Calls For Adiala Prisoners
ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 31st Aug, 2026) The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed petitions filed by three Adiala Jail prisoners seeking treatment at private hospitals and permission to speak with their family members abroad by telephone. This was done citing the relief granted to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf founder in a similar matter.
Justice Muhammad Asif dismissed the petitions of prisoners Owais Altaf, Ilyas Khan and Muhammad Ismail after reserving the verdict on August 27.
Key Observations:
- The court stated that while a prisoner could be treated at a private hospital if adequate medical facilities were lacking at government hospitals in Islamabad, such transfer required the recommendation of a medical board.
- It noted that the Supreme Court’s directions issued on August 18 were interim and the case relied upon by the petitioners was still pending before the apex court. Therefore, the interim order could not be considered a final judgment.
- In Muhammad Ismail’s case, the IHC held that he had failed to prove that an office order dated August 2 was illegal or that his fundamental rights were violated.
- The court emphasized that if WhatsApp, video calls, or other communication methods were legally available to prisoners, relevant authorities could consider such requests. However, any such facility would be subject to jail discipline and security requirements.
- It clarified that treatment at a private hospital could not be claimed as a fundamental right without a medical board’s opinion confirming the unavailability of required treatment at the jail or government hospital.
