RAWALPINDI: Sisters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan staged a sit-in outside Adiala Jail on Tuesday after authorities refused to allow a scheduled family meeting, triggering the deployment of additional police and drawing senior PTI leaders to the scene.
According to media reports, Imran Khan’s sisters Noreen Khan, Aleema Khan and Dr Uzma reached the jail for a family visit but were stopped by police at the Factory Naka checkpoint. Despite Tuesdays being designated for family and legal visits, jail officials informed them around 4pm that no meeting would be allowed and declined to confirm whether access would be granted later in the week.
Following the refusal, the sisters began a sit-in outside the jail premises, which continued into the night. Several senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders soon joined the protest, including party chairman Barrister Gohar, Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Rehana Dar, Aamir Dogar, Senator Aon Pasha and multiple MNAs and local leaders.
Speaking at the protest site, Aleema Khan demanded that Imran Khan be examined by doctors of the family’s choice rather than government-appointed medical staff. She said the protest was not aimed at the police, whom she described as being under pressure themselves. She alleged that family meetings had been suspended for weeks and claimed that the former prime minister was being subjected to mental distress.
Aleema also questioned the restrictions placed on political discussions during jail meetings and criticised the decision to keep Imran Khan in isolation. She urged the media to raise what she called genuine public interest questions over the situation.
Addressing party supporters at the Dahgal checkpoint, Barrister Gohar said meeting the PTI founder was a legal right guaranteed by the Islamabad High Court. He said court orders for family and legal access were not being implemented and warned that political disagreements should not turn into personal hostility.
He added that the National Assembly speaker had also supported the resumption of meetings and said Imran Khan had nominated Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir to lead political dialogue. He stressed the need to lower the temperature of political confrontation.
As the protest grew, police further tightened security at the Factory Naka checkpoint. Additional contingents were deployed, female officers were called to the site and streetlights on parts of Adiala Road near the sit-in were switched off.
Prison vans and water-cannon vehicles were positioned as precautionary measures. Officials said the administration was reviewing options to deal with the situation if the crowd expanded further, while maintaining that law and order would be enforced if required.
The standoff unfolded a day after strict security measures were already imposed around Adiala Jail. Commercial centres and educational institutions from Gorakhpur to the Dahgal checkpoint remained closed under a special two-shift security plan.
More than 1,200 police personnel were deployed, including SHOs from 20 police stations, eight DSPs and two SPs. The deployment also included 48 female commandos, six lady inspectors and units from the RMP Force, Punjab Constabulary, Dolphin Squad and Elite Force. SP Saddar Anum Sher supervised the security operation, while SSP Operations Tariq Malik inspected arrangements on site.
The development also follows last week’s statement by Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, who ruled out meetings between PTI leaders and Imran Khan’s family. He accused Dr Uzma of misconduct and warned that attempts to create unrest outside the jail would lead to FIRs and strict legal action.
Earlier, at the request of jail authorities, a five-member medical team from PIMS Hospital carried out a full medical examination of Imran Khan. The team included specialists from medicine, surgery, pathology and dermatology, along with a laboratory technician.
