Imran Khan’s sisters staged a fresh sit-in outside Adiala jail on Tuesday after prison authorities once again barred them from meeting the jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder. The standoff added to rising tensions around the high-security facility, where protests have surged in recent weeks.
Police stopped Aleema Khan, Noreen Khan and Uzma Khan at the Factory checkpoint, citing that official visiting hours had ended. Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who accompanied them, was also refused entry. A visibly frustrated Aleema repeatedly urged PTI workers to remain calm, reminding them that police officers were “under pressure” and not adversaries.
She said the family had been attempting to meet Imran Khan for weeks, insisting that their last permitted visit did not involve political discussion. Aleema questioned the continued restrictions and accused authorities of keeping the former prime minister in isolation without legal justification.
Sit-in Resumes Amid Heavy Security
Following the refusal, Imran Khan’s sisters resumed their sit-in near the checkpoint. They were joined by MNAs Junaid Akbar and Shahid Khattak, along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet members Meena Khan and Shafi Jan. The road leading to Adiala jail remained sealed as over 1,200 officers were deployed under Section 144, and businesses from Gorakhpur to Dahgal were ordered closed.
Tensions have simmered outside the jail for months, with repeated confrontations between PTI workers and law enforcement over visitation rights. Last month, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi staged a 16-hour sit-in at the same location. Days later, Imran Khan’s sisters were briefly detained during another protest.
Read what Interior Minister say about Imran Khan’s Meetings
PTI Labels Ban ‘Unlawful’
PTI leaders strongly criticised the latest denial, calling it an unlawful attempt to isolate the former premier. Asad Qaiser condemned the restrictions, arguing that preventing family and legal access violated court orders and basic rights.
He also rejected discussions within political circles about banning Imran Khan from politics, saying past attempts to sideline national leaders had never succeeded. The controversy intensified after the government enforced a blanket ban on meetings—confirmed last week by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar—just hours after the military spokesperson described Imran Khan as a “mentally ill person” and a security risk.
‘Politics Should Not Become Enmity’
Speaking at the Dahgal checkpoint, Barrister Gohar said political hostility had reached an alarming point. He urged authorities to allow at least legal and family visits, warning that escalating tensions could destabilize the political environment further.
Gohar said meetings with the PTI founder were necessary to brief him on national developments and advance talks. He added that the PTI founder had nominated Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas for negotiations and emphasised that parliament and state institutions must work in alignment to avoid deepening national despair.
