Imran Khan's captivity adds to Attock jail's rich legacy
Imran Khan was sentenced to 3 years of prison in the Toshakhana case. Photo: Getty
On August 6, 2023, the apprehensions of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan materialised as he was sentenced to three years in prison in the Toshakhana case. This development not only led to Khan's arrest and imprisonment but also resulted in his disqualification from participating in elections for the next five years.
In a recent interview with DW's Tim Sebastian, Khan had expressed concerns that the government might prevent him from freely participating in public activities as the elections drew nearer. Khan had stated, "Sooner or later they will put me into jail. But the question is, will they allow the party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to contest the elections?"
It was evident that Khan harbored fears of incarceration ahead of the elections. Being the sole opposition leader in Pakistan at the moment, Imran Khan had garnered substantial support from the masses, and if allowed to contest, he could have posed a significant electoral challenge.
After evading arrests on multiple occasions in recent months, Khan was swiftly apprehended by the Lahore police at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore. His place of confinement, the Attock jail, holds its own historical significance due to its association with notable inmates.
Attock jail's historical significance
Imran Khan is not the first Pakistani politician to be incarcerated at Attock. Prior to him, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari, and Shehbaz Sharif had also been held there on corruption charges.
The distinction lies in the fact that while Imran Khan is lodged in Attock jail, his political rivals, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari, and Shehbaz Sharif, were confined to the Attock fort.
Situated at the confluence of the Indus and Kabul rivers, Attock city was previously named Campbellpur in honor of Field Marshal Colin Campbell, the Commander-in-Chief of the British forces during the 19th century. This location has historical significance as a stopover for notable figures like Alexander The Great and Ibn-e-Batuta, who embarked on a remarkable journey spanning around 117,000 km.
Spanning an area of 67 acres, six kanals, and 12 marlas, Attock Jail also includes 22 acres and four kanals of agricultural land, along with two acres of barren land. Currently, it stands among the 40 prisons operating in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Notably, the Attock Fort hosted trials of various officers of the country in 1973 and 1985.
Renowned legal minds such as Manzur Qadir, S.M Zafar, Ijaz Hussain Batalvi, Aaitzaz Hasan, and Wasim Sajjad have represented dissatisfied armed forces officers during the Attock Fort trials.
While the jail is authorized to hold 539 prisoners, reports suggest that the current inmate population is 804.
The prison has also housed Major Nadir Pervez, an army officer accused of overthrowing Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's government, who later became a federal minister in the Nawaz Sharif administration.
Imran Khan at Attock jail
Although Imran Khan was initially slated to be placed in Adiala jail, he was taken to Attock jail by the police. The duration of his stay in Attock jail remains uncertain.
Reports indicate that he is being held in a special VVIP cell furnished with a bed, a private washroom, and a cooler. However, an air-conditioner has not been provided.
Khan's political party stated that he has been denied access to his legal team within the jail premises, and his confinement is being closely monitored.