Salman Safdar meets Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi at Adiala

Salman Safdar meets Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi at Adiala after months ISLAMABAD: Barrister Salman Safdar on Monday met Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, at Adiala Jail, ending months without direct access to the incarcerated couple. In a post on X, Safdar said the meeting took place at 4:30pm and lasted around 40 minutes. He described it as his first meeting with Imran in seven months and with Bushra in 11 months, adding that jail authorities had arranged it after multiple requests. 'The session was insufficient to cover all cases/legal matters,' the lawyer said, indicating that the limited time had not allowed him to discuss all pending legal issues. Safdar said Imran and Bushra briefed him on their health and the conditions in which they were being kept in prison. They also conveyed fresh instructions concerning certain legal matters and ongoing cases. He did not disclose details of the instructions. The meeting comes amid continuing legal proceedings and concerns over the couple's access to family members and lawyers. On September 2, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed Adiala Jail authorities to ensure meaningful human interaction, family access, exercise, reading material and other facilities for Imran and Bushra. The court observed that lawful incarceration did not authorise the avoidable deprivation of human dignity. Earlier, on June 18, the IHC had directed the Islamabad advocate general to ensure a meeting between the couple and their legal counsel within seven days to facilitate legal formalities and the prosecution of appeals against their convictions in the £190 million reference case. Safdar last met Imran on April 9 for legal consultation in the £190 million case. The meeting, which lasted about an hour, had been facilitated in compliance with an IHC order issued a day earlier. Imran and Bushra remain incarcerated at Adiala Jail. They were sentenced to 17 years in prison on December 20, 2025, in the Toshakhana-II case, involving allegations that they unlawfully retained a Bulgari jewellery set gifted by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit to Saudi Arabia. Imran has been in custody since August 2023 and is also facing pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with the May 9, 2023 protests.