Islamabad: The recent petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the National Commission for Human Rights regarding the medical condition and prison circumstances of Bushra Bibi has come under strong criticism from legal and political circles, who have termed it purely a political stunt and an attempt to secure media headlines.
Legal experts say that the relevant facts are already under consideration in higher judicial forums. Therefore, approaching a commission like the NCHR while the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court are already seized of related matters is not a legal necessity but rather part of political image-building. No administrative or human rights commission can bypass the jurisdiction of constitutional courts or override prison laws.
According to analysts, similar allegations regarding conditions in Adiala Jail and prisoner facilities have been raised repeatedly in the case of PTI founder Imran Khan. In this context, a formal medical and fact-finding board headed by Barrister Salman Safdar was constituted, which submitted its detailed report to the High Court, and the court expressed full satisfaction over it.
Furthermore, just last week, the Adiala Jail Superintendent appeared before the Islamabad High Court and submitted a fresh report regarding prison conditions and security. Therefore, recycling the same allegations in different forums after reports have already been placed before superior courts does not establish a new legal case.
As for the medical concerns or eyesight-related issues of former First Lady Bushra Bibi, a clear and established procedure exists under the jail manual and applicable laws. According to this system, the jail doctor first examines the prisoner, and if required, the patient can be referred to a higher medical board and shifted to a government or designated hospital under legal procedure.
Legal experts maintain that no citizen or VIP prisoner is above the law or prescribed procedure, and no parallel legal or medical system can be created for the convenience of any political group.
Political and security observers say that the NCHR is neither the appropriate forum for this matter nor does it have any immediate authority to provide practical legal relief. If the petitioners truly had a legitimate legal grievance, the correct forum would have been the Islamabad High Court. Instead, the matter has been taken to a commission in a way that appears aimed more at creating political noise and pressuring institutions rather than seeking lawful remedy.
Interestingly, those PTI leaders and senators who were previously criticized for not visiting Adiala Jail or distancing themselves from their leadership are now rushing to file such petitions and staged expressions of concern in an attempt to prove loyalty to their political leadership. These actions, according to critics, do not represent genuine human rights advocacy but rather performance politics and “legal theatre,” aimed at generating media hype parallel to judicial proceedings and maligning institutions without justification.
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