Imran Khan’s sisters denied visit once again

The sisters of imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan were once again stopped from meeting him at Adiala Jail on Tuesday, prompting a roadside protest by Aleema Khan outside the facility.

On what was scheduled as a visiting day for Imran, family members of his wife Bushra Bibi, as well as several lawyers, arrived at the jail in Rawalpindi.

However, when Imran’s sisters attempted to pass through the Gorakhpur checkpoint, they were denied entry. In protest, Aleema Khan exited her vehicle and sat on the pavement, refusing to leave.

Speaking to reporters, Aleema said police had previously detained and left them in an isolated area after a similar attempt to meet their brother. “If they stop us here again, we will sit right here. They deceived us last time, we won’t move today,” she stated.

When asked about the jail administration’s earlier claim that Khan did not wish to meet his family, Aleema laughed off the suggestion.

“Is this something anyone would believe? He demanded a meeting and made noise inside the jail for it,” she said, citing a family witness.

She further alleged that authorities were using delaying tactics and creating obstacles to prevent them from seeing him.

Aleema added that unless all three sisters were allowed in together, they would escalate their protest.

“We don’t accept any minus-one formula. Either we go together or not at all,” she told reporters.

Legal representatives, including Barrister Ali Zafar and Barrister Gohar, were also present outside the jail, though Aleema said they too were asked not to advocate for the family’s visit.

Similar scenes unfolded earlier this month when the sisters were stopped at the same location, briefly detained, and later dropped far from the site.

The incident has fuelled concerns among PTI supporters about restrictions on Imran’s access to his family.

Imran Khan, the country’s former prime minister, remains incarcerated on multiple charges, as legal battles continue following his government’s ouster through a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in 2022.