The sisters of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as well as leaders of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), were again denied permission to meet him at Adiala Jail on Thursday, with the party stressing that this violates court orders.
Since Eidul Fitr, Khan’s family—particularly his sister Aleema—have been repeatedly denied permission to meet him. Meanwhile, some leaders of his party are granted entry to Adiala for twice weekly meetings with him, while others are routinely turned away. The situation has widened rifts within the party, with various camps openly accusing each other of toeing the establishment’s line.
On Thursday, Khan’s sisters Aleema, Noreen and Uzma, accompanied by their cousin Qasim and several leaders of the PTI, once more reached Adiala for a chance to meet the PTI founder. After being denied entry, they proceeded to a nearby building, vowing to remain there until the meeting was granted.
Speaking with media, Aleema lamented that she was once more being denied a meeting with her brother despite assurances that she would be able to meet him on Thursday. She said the family would not leave the location without meeting Imran Khan.
Subsequently, police reached the scene, where the PTI leaders exchanged harsh words with them. Khan’s family and a majority of the present leaders were then briefly detained before being released near the Chakri interchange.
Among the PTI leaders detained were Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub; Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Punjab Opposition Leader Ahmed Khan Bhachar. PTI leader Zartaj Gul, also present, was not taken into custody.
Ahead of the PTI’s attempt to meet Khan, police cordoned off the road leading to and from Adiala Jail, with heavy deployment and checkpoints set up to restrict access to the prison. Similar scenes were observed outside the prison a week earlier, when PTI workers clashed with law enforcers, resulting in the detention of multiple workers and leaders. Then, too, police had detained Khan’s sisters, PTI leader Aliya Hamza and SIC chief Raza. They were similarly released after a few hours.