Scheduled meeting denial: IK’s sisters, others stage sit-in outside Adiala Jail

RAWALPINDI: The sisters of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan, along with senior party leaders and workers, staged a sit-in outside Adiala Jail on Tuesday after they were denied a scheduled meeting with the former prime minister.

Tuesday had been designated as the visitation day for Khan’s family and legal team. However, his sisters — Aleema Khan, Dr Uzma Khan, and Noreen Khan — were barred from meeting their brother. PTI’s interim chairman, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, provincial president Junaid Akbar, parliamentary leader Shahid Khattak, Asad Qaiser, and a large number of party workers joined the sit-in at Factory Naka.

The demonstrators chanted slogans demanding Imran Khan’s release as well as against the government.

Barrister Gohar, while talking to the media at the Dahgal checkpost near Adiala Jial, said “he and his team always come here for meetings with Khan because it is our constitutional right.” He added “we have come for a meeting with Khan in compliance with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order.”

Gohar said that, as per the directive of IHC, family members and lawyers should be allowed to meet the party’s founding chairman, but, unfortunately, they were once again barred from the meeting. “The country cannot afford further chaos and tension,” he warned.

He stressed that political disagreements are natural, but hostility should not have any place in politics. “People should not consider each other a threat,” he added.

Gohar praised the role of the National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, saying he had assured arrangements for a meeting and “has always played a positive role.” According to Khan’s written instructions, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, and Allama Raja Nasir have the mandate to hold talks with the Speaker.

Aleema Khan said that she had reached the location “after crossing all barriers.” “Come on, arrest me if you want,” she challenged authorities, accusing them of carrying out illegal actions while imposing restrictions on those trying to act within the law.

She said the family was not even allowed to bring a doctor into Adiala Jail. “Government doctors examine the PTI founding chairman Khan, and selective official reports are issued,” she remarked.

Aleema Khan pointed out that the whole world knows that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was allowed to keep his personal doctor with him 24 hours a day during his time in Adiala Jail.

She warned that if they are once again denied a meeting with the PTI founder, they will stage an on-site protest and a sit-in.

The law enforcement agencies put security on high alert outside Adiala Jail and at all roads leading to the prison.

Under the security plan, markets and commercial areas along Adiala Road, from Gorakhpur to Dahgal, remain closed.

According to the security plan, Station House Officers (SHOs) from 20 police stations, eight Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSPs), two Superintendent of Police (SPs), and over 1,200 security personnel have been deployed for the security duty in the nearby areas of Adiala Jail.

Six lady inspectors, accompanied by 48 female commandos, have also been deployed. Heavy contingents of police remained positioned at Dahgal checkpoint, Gate No. 1, Gate No. 5, Factory checkpoint, and Gorakhpur.

Officials on duty have been equipped with rubber bullets, tear-gas shells, batons, shields, and anti-riot gear. Police personnel from multiple stations, including Gujar Khan, Mandra, Kahuta, Kallar Syedan, Dhamial, Chakri, Rawat, Chontra, Women Morgah, Cantt, and Saddar Bairon, have been assigned to maintain security.

Khan’s sister, PTI leaders, and workers continued the sit-in till the filing of this report.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025