ISLAMABAD: The Punjab Prison Department has refused permission to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan to make phone calls to his children in the UK saying the suspects of the Official Secrets Act are not entitled to be given telephone facility.

The Superintendent of Attock Jail submitted a report before the Special Court (Official Secrets Act) in response to a direction that asked jail authorities to provide the PTI chairman, who is detained under the Official Secrets Act in connection with Cipher case, the phone facility to make call to his children.

Judge Abual Hasnat Mohammad Zulgarnain onSept11issuedtheorder to the SP of Attock Jail.

The judge sought arguments on the report of the jail administration and adjourned the hearing of the case till Sept 18.

The SP of jail in the report said that Mr Khan has been detained in the case registered against him under sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act and section 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The report said that `there is no provision in Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, which allows any prisoner to have telephonic conversation outside country`.

It referred to the letter of the Inspector General Prisons that stated that `prisoners involved in Official Secrets Act, 1923, are not allowed Public Call Office facility`.

The IG Prisons in the letter stated that `as per current SOPs, it is not possible/lawful to extend the facility of the PCO to prisoners confined in Punjab jails who are convicted under Pakistan Army Act or Official Secrets Act`.

PTI counsel Shiraz Ranjha argued the jail administration did not comply with the court order to facilitate Mr Khan to make phone calls to his children.-Malik Asad