'Mutton, coffee, coconut juice': Jail reveals Imran's menu after claims of ill-treatment

ISLAMABAD: Adiala jail authorities have dismissed claims made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regarding the alleged mistreatment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, revealing instead the detailed menu of meals provided to him during his incarceration.

The statement came after PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan expressed concerns about Imran’s treatment following a recent meeting with him at the jail, where the former PM has been held for over a year. Gohar claimed that Imran had spoken for the first time about the poor conditions in his cell, including a five-day suspension of electricity, lack of access to newspapers and TV for two weeks, and being allowed only two and a half hours outside his cell daily.

Condemning the "ill-treatment," Gohar argued that Imran’s rights were being violated and that the small cell constituted "solitary confinement." He also mentioned that the PTI founder was unaware of the arrest of his sisters but remained resolute in his and his family's commitment to the people’s struggle, urging the nation to remain peaceful.

Gohar said they were only given 45 minutes to meet Imran, contrary to their expectations. However, he noted that the former PM was in good spirits. "We will try to meet him again on Monday," he added.

In response, Adiala jail officials issued a statement refuting these claims, asserting that Imran was receiving all the privileges entitled to him under B-Class jail rules. They stated that Imran enjoys uninterrupted electricity, regular meals prepared by a professional cook, and daily exercise. The meals include a variety of dishes such as coffee, chia seeds, beetroot juice, yogurt, traditional curry, local chicken, mutton, and fresh fruits like grapes and coconut.

The jail authorities also clarified that Imran’s health is regularly monitored by an in-house doctor and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital, with all recent tests confirming he is healthy. They further denied allegations of isolation, emphasizing that Imran has access to daily newspapers and that his conditions comply with all legal requirements.

Meanwhile, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram criticized the jail administration for preventing lawyer Salman Akram Raja from meeting Imran, despite other leaders like Gohar, Ali Zafar, and Asad Qaiser being allowed.

During his address, Gohar revealed that Imran had requested meetings with four key party leaders and expressed optimism about the ongoing fight for constitutional supremacy. He vowed to continue the struggle, even if it meant spending 100 years in prison. Imran also welcomed discussions on constitutional amendments with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

However, jail sources shared a different version of the meeting, quoting Imran as expressing frustration with PTI leaders for failing to secure his release. He reportedly criticized them for not following his protest plan, particularly during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, saying, “Follow the plan given by me, only then I will come out of jail.”