TAXILA: Despite directions from the Islamabad High Court, PTI Chairman Imran Khan was not shifted to Rawal­pindi’s Adiala Jail until late on Monday, mainly due to two reasons; security concerns and the absence of a written order.

However, one of his lawyers claimed that the former prime minister had indeed been transferred to the Adiala Jail, triggering confusion on social media platforms.

While hearing petitions seeking Mr Khan’s transfer to Rawalpindi, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq observed that under-trial prisoners (UTPs) of all the courts in the federal capital were kept at Adiala and issued directions to shift Mr Khan to that prison.

The direction followed arguments by Mr Khan’s counsel Sher Afzal Khan Marwat, who said the court had suspended Mr Khan’s sentence in the Toshakhana case and the ex-PM was facing a trial in the cipher case before a special court in Islamabad. As a UTP from the federal territory, Mr Khan must be kept in Adiala Jail, he argued.

Justice Farooq remarked that pursuant to suspension of the sentence, Mr Khan’s status had also changed.

Addressing AAG Barrister Mun­a­war Iqbal Duggal, he inquired about the status of other UTPs.

Mr Duggal replied that all UTPs of Islamabad’s courts are kept in the Adiala Jail. Justice Farooq ord­ered that Mr Khan shall be shifted to Adiala and further directed the jail administration to provide all facilities to which he is entitled.

Later, Mr Khan’s lawyers, quoting authorities, claimed the court’s directions had been implemented. Barrister Naeem Panjhota, a prominent member of Mr Khan’s legal team, claimed that Mr Khan had indeed been shifted to Adiala Jail.

However, the Attock Jail administration refuted the claim, saying Mr Khan had not been shifted due to security reasons, and they were still “hosting” him.

In his message on X, Mr Panjhota said he had been informed that Imran Khan had been shifted to Adiala Jail but “it is beyond understanding that Attock Jail [authorities] are also saying that they have PTI chairman”.

Meanwhile, IHC Chief Justice Farooq reserved verdict on an FIA application seeking in-camera proceedings of the cipher case.

The application came up when the chief justice was hearing a petition seeking post-arrest bail for Mr Khan in the case.

FIA prosecutors argued that since the cipher case had been registered under the Official Secrets Act, the hearing of petitions related to this case should be held in-camera.

However, Mr Khan’s counsel argued that a notification issued by the law ministry had cited security reasons for holding the ex-premier’s trial inside the jail.

He requested the court to grant post-arrest bail to Mr Khan.

According to the law ministry’s notification, the judge of Special Court (Official Secrets Act) had requested for conducting Mr Khan’s trial inside the prison due to security reasons.

The law ministry stated it had no objection on the trial being conducted inside the jail.