The Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) larger bench on Thursday restored the ban on political discussions among inmates in jails by suspending a single bench verdict that had struck down the clause in the Punjab Prison Rules.

The decision came in response to an intra-court appeal filed by the Punjab government challenging the earlier ruling of Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan.

The single bench had previously declared the ban unconstitutional, saying it violated the right to freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution.

The clause, contained in Section 265 of the Pakistan Prison Rules (1978), prohibits prisoners from engaging in political discussions within jail premises.

During the hearing, Punjab Advocate General Amjad Pervaiz argued that the restriction was necessary for maintaining discipline and order in prisons, urging the court to reinstate the rule until a final judgment is issued.

The larger bench accepted the provincial government’s plea and temporarily suspended the earlier verdict, effectively restoring the enforcement of the ban.