August 24, 2026
By Hashir Ahsan
ISLAMABAD
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices to Adiala Jail authorities and has sought comments on the petitions filed by 3 Adiala Jail prisoners, for their treatment in private hospitals, and to regain regular contact with family members
Justice Muhammad Asif heard the petitions of prisoners Ilyas Khan, Muhammad Ismail Khan, and Awais Altaf.
Barrister Akhtar Chhina, the lawyer for prisoner Ismail Khan, appeared before the court and took the position that the petitioner suffered from hemophilia and internal bleeding. He was brought to the hospital 10 times in two months, but there was no improvement. The treatment for this issue in Pakistan is currently possible only at Shifa Hospital.
Relying on the Supreme Court decision, it was submitted by the lawyer, that if the treatment for a disease was not available in a government hospital, the prisoner could also be shifted to a private hospital. The decision made it clear that the cost could be borne by the family members.
The petition prayed that a medical board be constituted and questioned that if a liver transplant was not available in a government hospital, would the prisoner not be transferred to a private hospital?
The lawyer for petitioner Awais Altaf, Syed Jafar, appeared before the court via video link and took the position that petitioner Awais Altaf has a fever and heart disease. Getting proper medical treatment was his fundamental right. Since his treatment is not possible in a government hospital, an order should be issued to transfer him to Shifa Hospital.
The petition of Muhammad Ismail Khan stated that he has been imprisoned in Adiala Jail for nine years. One of his brothers lives in Dubai, and there has been no contact with him for years. The petition requested jail authorities be directed to arrange a talk with his brother via a WhatsApp call. The court sought paragraphed comments in all three cases, issued notices to jail authorities for a reply, and adjourned the hearing until August 27.
Petition of prisoner Awais Altaf
Under-trial prisoner Awais Altaf, son of Altaf, had been arrested under FIR No. 854/2025 registered at the Ramna Police Station. Imprisoned in Central Jail Adiala, Rawalpindi, Altaf filed a constitutional petition in the IHC through his advocate Syed Jafar Hussain, for the provision of medical facilities and a transfer to a private hospital.
In the petition, Superintendent Adiala Jail, Federation of Pakistan through Secretary Ministry of Interior, Government of Punjab through Chief Secretary, IG Prisons Punjab, Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare, and Medical Officer Adiala Jail have all been made respondents.
According to the petitioner, he is suffering from rheumatology, a joint disease as well as cardiac complications. According to medical reports from PIMS and Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC), the prisoner has a history of rheumatic fever since 2009. The document detailed that in recent tests, the ASO Titre level was recorded at 845, Uric Acid at 8.95 mg/dL, and ESR level at 24.57 mm/hr, while MRI and X-rays of the pelvis have been recommended for testing inflammation in the lower back joints (sacroiliitis).
Apart from this, the prisoner’s Ejection Fraction (EF) has been recorded at 65 percent. The petitioner had approached the Adiala Jail administration for treatment in a private hospital, which was rejected by the SP Jail through an official order on August 2, 2026. The petitioner submitted that this action is a violation of Articles 4, 9, and 14 of the Constitution. The petition also references the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s order dated August 18, 2026 (Criminal Appeal No. 400/2025), rules of the Pakistan Prison Rules 1978, the Nelson Mandela Rules, and the ICCPR.
The petitioner prayed to the High Court that the jail administration’s act of not providing specialized treatment should be declared illegal and contrary to Articles 4, 9, and 14 of the Constitution.
An independent medical board comprising experts from Shifa International Hospital and Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital be constituted. Orders be issued under Rule 197 of the Pakistan Prison Rules 1978 to transfer the prisoner to Shifa International or Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital. Directions be issued to submit a comprehensive medical report.
Petition of prisoner Ilyas Khan
In a murder and attempted murder case (FIR No. 381/2024, under sections 302/324 PPC) registered at Bani Gala Police Station, under-trial prisoner Ilyas Khan, son of Juma Khan, imprisoned in Central Prison Adiala Rawalpindi, has filed a petition under Article 199 of the Constitution in the Islamabad High Court through lawyers M. Shahrukh Sheikh, Advocate High Court, and Barrister Malik Akhtar Abbas Chhina, Advocate Supreme Court. In the petition, Superintendent Central Prison Adiala, Chief Commissioner Islamabad Capital Territory, IG Prisons Punjab, and Home Department Government of Punjab have been made respondents.
His petition states that during imprisonment, Ilyas Khan was diagnosed with “Hemophilia A” along with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and severe blood loss shock (hypovolemic shock), which is a fatal and life-threatening disease. The prisoner had earlier applied for transfer to Shifa International Hospital for specialized treatment, which was rejected by the SP Jail, Adiala on July 11, 2026, on the grounds that treatment was available in government hospitals under prison rules and treatment from a private or personal physician is against the law.
The petitioner’s stance is that he is not praying for his release, but seeks treatment under proper security during custody. For this, reference has been made to the Supreme Court’s order dated August 18, 2026, Rules 197, 776 to 809 of the Pakistan Prison Rules 1978, Islamic principles of self-preservation, and the Nelson Mandela Rules (specifically Rule 27).
The petitioner prayed that the jail administration’s action regarding the non-provision of hemophilia examination and care be declared illegal and unconstitutional. A medical board comprising experts in haematology and gastroenterology from Shifa International Hospital and Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital be constituted.
He prayed that an order be issued for the immediate transfer of the prisoner from Adiala Jail to Shifa International or Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital and that directions be issued to process all legal approvals under Rule 197 of the Prison Rules without delay.