Adiala Road descended into chaos on Tuesday as PTI supporters and leaders locked horns with police during a scheduled visit by the family of party founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail.
The confrontation quickly spiralled into multiple scuffles, leaving several injured and others rounded up, with party leaders accusing law enforcement of using a heavy hand.
According to reports, police allegedly manhandled PTI MNA Khurram Shahzad Virk, injuring him, while PTI's Chief Whip Aamir Dogar was roughed up and his clothes were torn during the commotion.
The fracas began near the Gorakhpur checkpoint, where police attempted to halt a PTI procession en route to the jail. In a bid to defy the blockade, leaders Sahibzada Hamid Raza and MNA Shahid Khattak reportedly pushed against the cordon and assisted workers in breaking through.
Earlier, police had stopped the PTI founder's three sisters – Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Khan – along with lawyers Salman Safdar, Salman Akram Raja, and Niazullah Niazi from proceeding beyond the checkpoint.
As tensions rose, a crowd of PTI supporters swelled at the scene, chanting slogans and rallying in defiance. When MNA Shahid Khattak, CM's Advisor Sohail Afridi and other leaders arrived, the situation escalated into a full confrontation, with intense pushing and shoving between party leaders and police.
Despite police efforts, they failed to stop the advancing workers. Led by Uzma Khan, Aleema Khan and Noreen Khan, PTI supporters broke through the blockade and began marching towards Adiala Jail.
Multiple attempts by police to intercept the rally failed until a large contingent blocked them near a roadside eatery half a kilometre from the jail. A second clash erupted, during which police began detaining active workers and loading them into prisoner transport vans.
Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser and Opposition Leader Omar Ayub arrived at the scene as tensions eased. Police warned that more arrests would follow if the crowd was not dispersed.
A heated exchange also occurred between Ayub and SP Saddar Nabeel Khokhar.
However, order was finally restored after two of the PTI founders' sisters, Uzma Khan and Noreen Khan, were allowed a 45-minute meeting with him. Police later stated that all detained workers were released later that night.
Following the meeting, the party leaders and supporters peacefully dispersed.
Internal directives
PTI founder met his sisters Uzma Khan and Noreen Khan inside Adiala Jail for 45 minutes. Aleema Khan, however, was denied access. After the meeting, the sisters briefed her on the conversation.
Speaking to the media, Aleema Khan said: "Thank God, at least my two sisters were allowed to meet him today".
She revealed that the sisters protested to their brother, urging him not to meet anyone who is not on an approved list. They conveyed concerns that recent visitors had distorted his words and that his social media accounts were being misused to falsely praise vloggers.
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