Aleema rejects reports of ex-army chief meeting Imran in Adiala Jail

ISLAMABAD: Aleema Khan on Monday strongly dismissed reports circulating on social media regarding an alleged meeting between incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan and a former army chief at Adiala Jail, describing the claims as completely false and part of a deliberate disinformation campaign.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Aleema Khan categorically rejected the reports, stating that no such meeting had taken place.

“All the news circulating on social media that a former army chief met Imran Khan in Adiala jail is fake,” she said.

She added that the matter had been verified with Gohar Ali Khan, who also confirmed that the reports were entirely baseless.

According to Aleema, the circulation of such claims appeared aimed at diverting public attention from what she described as the continued isolation of the PTI founder and concerns regarding his treatment in prison.

“It is disinformation, especially spread to distract from the fact that Imran is being tortured through total isolation,” she stated.

Aleema alleged that the former premier was not receiving proper treatment for his eye condition and continued to face restrictions on communication with family members. She further claimed that Imran had been denied access to books for the past six months and had not been provided television facilities in his prison cell.

Highlighting what she described as severe limitations on outside contact, Aleema said Imran had effectively been cut off from the outside world for months.

“He has not been allowed contact with anyone from the outside world during the last six months, except two visits by his lawyer on the orders of the court,” she claimed.

She referred to an existing court order that, according to her, permits regular meetings with family members, lawyers and party representatives.

“There is a full bench court order that allows at least 18 people to visit him every week — six family members and six lawyers on Tuesdays, and six party members on Thursdays,” she said.

Aleema argued that access to family, legal counsel and political colleagues constituted rights protected under Pakistani law as well as international legal standards.

“These are his lawful rights under Pakistan’s laws and international laws,” she maintained.

The clarification came amid widespread speculation on social media over the weekend alleging that a former chief of army staff had secretly met Imran Khan inside Adiala Jail. No official confirmation of such a meeting has been provided by authorities, and PTI leaders have publicly denied the claims.

Imran Khan has remained incarcerated since August 2023 and is currently serving sentences in multiple cases, including a 14-year sentence in the £190 million corruption case and a 17-year sentence in the Toshakhana-II case.

Concerns regarding his health and prison conditions have periodically surfaced in recent months. In January, the former prime minister underwent a medical procedure at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, a development that was officially confirmed by the government several days later. He has since continued receiving follow-up medical treatment.

His family has repeatedly expressed concern over restrictions on communication with his sons, Kasim Khan and Suleiman Khan, who reside in London with Imran Khan’s former wife. Family members have alleged that the two have not been allowed to speak with their father and have accused authorities of delaying visa-related processes.

The issue of access to Imran Khan has remained a recurring point of contention between the PTI and authorities. The party has regularly organized demonstrations and sit-ins outside Adiala Jail on Tuesdays and Thursdays — days designated by court orders for meetings with the former prime minister.

PTI leaders have repeatedly complained that scheduled meetings have not been taking place in accordance with court directives. On May 20, Aleema Khan and Sohail Afridi alleged that shots were fired near participants during a PTI protest outside Adiala Jail, further intensifying tensions surrounding the issue.

The latest statement by Aleema Khan reflects the PTI’s continued concerns regarding the imprisonment conditions of its founder, while also seeking to counter what party leaders describe as misinformation surrounding his status and contacts during incarceration.