Islamabad, Dec 9:
Tensions escalated outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on Tuesday as Aleema Khan, sister of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members, staged a sit-in after prison authorities once again refused them permission to meet the incarcerated PTI founder, local media reported.
In video statements en route to the jail, Aleema Khan accused the state of violating legal norms, asserting that PTI had not engaged in any unlawful activity. Criticising the authorities’ conduct, she remarked that Imran Khan had been denied access to his personal physician for the past 14 months. She questioned the government’s reluctance, saying, “What is the issue in allowing one doctor to meet Imran Khan?” She further compared the situation to former PM Nawaz Sharif’s imprisonment, claiming he received round-the-clock medical attention.
Aleema and accompanying PTI supporters marched toward Adiala jail but were halted by police near Gorakhpur Market, approximately one kilometre from the prison. Sitting near barricades, she called the restrictions “unconstitutional and illegal,” accusing authorities of keeping Imran Khan “isolated and tortured” in violation of the law.
Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023, facing multiple cases including corruption and terrorism following his ouster through a no-confidence vote in 2022. On December 2, his sister Uzma Khanum stated that while his physical health was “fine,” he continued to endure “mental torture,” alleging severe isolation and limited access to the outside world.
However, on December 4, Pakistan’s federal government barred Uzma Khan and others from meeting him, citing breaches of prison regulations. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said political discussions during visits were impermissible under jail rules.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan has filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court seeking permission for medical examinations at Shaukat Khanum Hospital. The petition requests monthly check-ups, full access for medical teams, and copies of medical reports to be provided both to the family and the court.
