Supreme Court Allows PTI Lawyer Salman Safdar to Meet Imran Khan, Appoints Him Amicus Curiae

Supreme Court Allows PTI Lawyer Salman Safdar to Meet Imran Khan, Appoints Him Amicus Curiae, The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Tuesday granted permission to senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Salman Safdar to meet Imran Khan, the party’s founder and former prime minister, who is currently imprisoned at Adiala Jail. The court also declared Safdar amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the case, ordering him to inspect Imran’s living conditions and report back in writing.

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The development comes after the SC’s two-member bench — led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan — resumed hearings on petitions related to Imran’s detention and legal rights.

Court Proceedings & Appointment of Safdar

The Supreme Court’s decision to allow the meeting follows an earlier request from PTI’s senior lawyer Latif Khosa seeking urgent visitation rights, which was initially rejected on Monday because the court said it could not grant such an order without hearing the government’s side first.

However, in Tuesday’s session, the bench appointed Salman Safdar as amicus curiae, giving him the authority to visit Imran in jail and assess the conditions of his confinement. The court instructed Safdar to carry out the visit “today” and submit a written report regarding Imran’s wellbeing and the conditions of his detention by tomorrow.

Legal Context

The SC has been dealing with multiple petitions related to Imran Khan’s incarceration, including those concerning his visitation rights, bail applications, and the conditions of his imprisonment. Imran has been jailed since August 2023 in a series of cases, many of which he and his party claim are politically motivated.

During the hearing, the Attorney General informed the bench that previous reports on Imran’s condition submitted in 2023 were deemed unsatisfactory by the court, prompting the new directive for an independent assessment.

Reaction and Next Steps

The Supreme Court’s order reflects ongoing judicial scrutiny of the legal procedures surrounding Imran Khan’s detention, and the amicus curiae appointment is intended to ensure a more transparent evaluation of his treatment behind bars. No further hearings on the petitions have been scheduled publicly, but the SC’s directive for a written report sets a clear timeline for immediate follow-up.