ISLAMABAD: PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja on Tuesday announced that his party was filing yet another contempt of court petition at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against Adiala jail authorities for repeatedly denying meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated at the Rawalpindi prison since September 2023.
Speaking to reporters at the IHC premises, Raja said this would be the sixth contempt petition on the same issue, accusing prison officials of “continued and deliberate non-compliance” with court orders.
The IHC has permitted Imran Khan to meet his family, lawyers and associates twice a week — on Tuesdays and Thursdays. However, Raja said the former prime minister had been denied visitors for weeks, including his sisters and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, despite the clear directives.
Both the PTI and Imran Khan’s sisters have previously approached the court over what they describe as persistent violations of the IHC’s orders by jail authorities.
Raja said incarceration restricted physical liberty but did not extinguish fundamental rights. “No constitution prevents a prisoner from talking,” he said, arguing that the jail rules being cited to bar meetings were themselves unconstitutional.
“When someone meets a prisoner, he can say whatever comes to his mind. There is no law that allows the state to censor thought or speech in this manner,” he added.
The PTI leader alleged that the restrictions were political rather than administrative, aimed at silencing Imran Khan and controlling the political narrative. He claimed authorities were trying to suppress what he called the “lie of February 8”, a reference to the 2024 general elections that PTI alleges were rigged.
“They are sending a message to the people that your destiny is subjugation, that your vote and your voice have no value,” Raja said, accusing the state of fostering fear and helplessness by denying access to the PTI founder.
Describing Imran Khan as the country’s most popular political leader, Raja claimed those in power remained threatened by his influence even from behind bars. “They are scared and terrified,” he said. “Their objective is to silence the voice of the founder of PTI.”
