PTI leaders denied meeting with Imran Khan at Adiala Jail again

ISLAMABAD: Senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Thursday were once again denied permission to meet party founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail, despite a court order allowing regular meetings with the incarcerated former premier.

Under directives issued by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Imran Khan is entitled to meet family members, lawyers and designated associates twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. However, PTI leaders said the meetings have repeatedly been blocked for several months.

A six-member PTI delegation, comprising Seemabia Tahir, Usman Jora, Asad Abbas, Malik Yasir Patwali, Malik Azeem and Rohail Anjum, arrived at the prison before the scheduled meeting time after their names had been submitted to jail authorities a day earlier.

Speaking to the media, Malik Yasir Patwali said the delegation informed prison officials that they had been nominated for the meeting in accordance with the IHC order. According to him, officials stated that approval was being sought and asked the leaders to wait.

“We remained there until the 4pm deadline, but no permission was granted for the meeting,” he said, adding that legal consultations were underway regarding the filing of a contempt petition over the alleged non-compliance with court orders.

Seemabia Tahir alleged that police prevented PTI leaders from approaching the jail premises and directed them to park their vehicles away from the prison. She said party leaders recorded their protest before leaving the area.

The PTI leader also reiterated the party’s demand that Imran Khan be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for medical treatment.

Family continues efforts for access to Imran

The latest development follows a similar attempt earlier this week when Aleema Khan and Sohail Afridi were also denied permission to meet Imran Khan.

Speaking outside Adiala Jail after that visit, Aleema Khan maintained that meeting family members was a constitutional right and pledged to continue seeking access to her brother through legal and political channels.

Imran Khan has remained incarcerated since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence in the £190 million corruption case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust Case.

PTI alleges pre-poll rigging in GB and AJK

Separately, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram accused the government of attempting to influence upcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

He alleged that PTI leaders were facing movement restrictions, denial of no-objection certificates (NOCs), and administrative pressure aimed at sidelining the party ahead of the polls.

Akram also criticised the delay in the presentation of the federal budget, claiming it reflected broader economic challenges and excessive reliance on the International Monetary Fund.