ISLAMABAD: A court-authorised legal meeting at Adiala Jail is being turned into a story of secret deals and backdoor negotiations, despite a clear clarification that no such arrangement is underway. PTI founding chairman Imran Khan’s meeting with his lawyers was meant for legal consultation over pending cases and appeals, not political bargaining or deal-making.
The well-placed sources in the government and establishment rejected claims of political bargaining or secret planning, saying the court had expressly authorised the meeting to allow Imran Khan’s legal representatives to consult him on pending cases, appeals and related legal matters.
Barrister Salman Safdar and Sardar Latif Khosa, both representing Imran Khan in legal proceedings, met the incarcerated former prime minister at Adiala Jail on Wednesday, November 11, following the IHC’s directions. The meeting also included Bushra Bibi and lasted around four hours, according to reports.
The statement stressed that consulting a client is a fundamental part of legal representation and that the lawyers had exercised their professional responsibility by meeting their client. It described attempts to link the meeting to a political deal or secret understanding as misleading and politically motivated.
“There is no back channel at work,” the statement maintained, warning that turning a court-authorised legal consultation into a political controversy could ultimately damage Imran Khan’s own interests.
The meeting, however, attracted political attention after Khosa confirmed that the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment had also been discussed. He declined to disclose details of that conversation, adding to speculation surrounding the lengthy consultation.
Nevertheless, the statement insisted that the meeting should not be misrepresented as evidence of negotiations or a political settlement. It argued that lawyers must be allowed to discuss their clients’ cases without every consultation being turned into a political narrative.
It also warned PTI against politicising the meeting, saying any attempt to create controversy around the lawyers’ access to Imran Khan could ultimately harm the incarcerated leader rather than serve his legal interests.
The central issue, the statement said, was the right of legal counsel to consult their client under court orders — not speculation about an alleged deal or secret political arrangement.
