Govt defends meeting ban on Imran's sister

Ministers blame PTI for 'propaganda drive'

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government on Thursday warned that anyone engaging in political talk after meeting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail would lose visitation rights, stating that the long-standing prison rules leave no room for such conduct.

At a joint press conference with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said reports had confirmed that Imran Khan's sisters held political conversations after their meetings, leading authorities to suspend Uzma Khan's visitation privileges.

He cautioned that any individual violating jail regulations or creating disorder outside Adiala would face strict action. Law Minister Tarar emphasised that prison rules prohibit publicising any conversation that takes place during such visits.

The law minister said that the Adiala Jail operates under the Punjab government and Islamabad's new facility has not yet become operational. He stressed that under the prison rules the jailed PTI founder is barred from political discussion during meetings.

He said the jail manual allows a convicted prisoner one supervised meeting per week with no more than six visitors, and permits only one letter per week, none of which may contain political material or information intended to be made public.

"Imran Khan is a convicted prisoner and cannot receive unsupervised meetings," he said, adding that under Rule 557 the superintendent may end or restrict visits if they appear inconsistent with rules or threaten public order.

Azam Nazeer Tarar said these regulations had existed for decades. He recalled that one judge had once suspended certain rules, and noted that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was allowed meetings in Adiala Jail but not in Kot Lakhpat because of the same provisions.

He added that during Imran Khan's own premiership, he opposed such permissions for convicted prisoners and even took the matter to the Supreme Court. "Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, despite being in the same jail, were not allowed to meet each other," he said.

Responding to a question, he criticised the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister for saying he needed to consult Imran Khan on forming his cabinet, warning that any attempt - or even discussion — of bypassing jail security would invite a firm state response.

The information minister accused PTI leaders of spreading claims on Indian and Afghan media that Imran's life was in danger, calling it propaganda aimed at damaging Pakistan internationally. He said the PTI founder enjoys facilities never granted to any other prisoner.