Negotiations underway as PTI sit-in continues outside Adiala jail
Sisters of PTI founder Imran Khan sit outside Adiala Jail after a meeting was denied on Tuesday. Photo: X/PTI
A sit-in led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan continued outside Adiala Jail on Wednesday, as police initiated negotiations in an attempt to end the protest.
According to Express News, SHO Raja Aizaz arrived at the demonstration site and initiated talks with Aleema, with PTI leader Shahid Khattak also present during the discussion.
Despite persistent requests from the police, Aleema refused to leave. During the exchange, SHO Aizaz urged her to disperse, saying, “Aleema Apa, please leave now — the protest has been registered.”
Following the appeal, Aleema and senior PTI leaders began internal consultations, but the sit-in remained in place as negotiations continued.
Earlier in the day, sisters of PTI founder Noreen Khan, Aleema and Dr Uzma, along with other party leaders, arrived for a scheduled family meeting but were stopped by police at the Factory Naka checkpoint.
Despite Tuesday being designated for family and lawyers’ visits, jail authorities informed Aleema and senior PTI leadership at 4pm—an hour before the end of visiting hours—that no meetings would be allowed. Officials also declined to commit to granting a visit on Thursday, 11 December.
In response, Khan’s sisters sat in protest outside the facility. They were later joined by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Rehana Dar, Aamir Dogar, Senator Aon Pasha and several party MNAs and local leaders. The sit-in continued late into the night.
Aleema demanded that Khan be examined by his personal physicians instead of government-appointed medical staff.
”عمران خان کو قید تنہائی میں رکھا ہوا ہے اور ذہنی ٹارچر دیا جا رہا ہے، یہ سب غیر آئینی کام خود کر رہے ہیں۔ ہم یہاں سے نہیں اٹھیں گے، ڈنڈے ماریں یا گولیاں چلائیں، جو انہوں نے کرنا ہے کریں۔“ علیمہ خان کی اڈیالہ جیل کے باہر گفتگو pic.twitter.com/wnELgdi3iM
She stated that the protest was not directed at the police, whom she described as “our brothers,” saying that officers themselves were under pressure. She added that family meetings with Khan had been suspended for weeks, alleging that the former prime minister was being subjected to “mental torture.” She questioned what constituted “political discussion” and criticised the decision to keep him in solitary confinement. She further urged journalists to ask responsible questions.
Gohar urges end to political tension
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan warned that the country could no longer bear escalating tension and political instability, urging all stakeholders to restore calm and avoid confrontation.
Speaking to journalists at the Dahgal checkpoint near Adiala Jail, he said efforts should be made to defuse the prevailing situation. “The country cannot afford more turmoil. We must work to end this tension and bring peace,” he remarked.
Barrister Gohar cautioned against politicising prison meetings, reiterating that family members and lawyers must be allowed to see the PTI founder. “Institutions and parliament are present in this country. The public is looking towards its leaders. We tried our best to bring change while staying within the system,” he said.
He maintained that meeting the PTI founder was their legal right. “The Islamabad High Court ordered that family and lawyers be allowed to meet, yet today again we have been stopped,” he added.
Gohar emphasised that political differences should not devolve into hostility. “In politics there can be disagreement, but not enmity. Do not consider each other a threat. Political figures must not fall into conflict with one another,” he said.
He noted that several matters the party wished to address were currently beyond their control. “I can only say this: when meetings with the founder and Bushra Bibi resume, the situation will improve. When meetings were happening earlier, we were already moving in a constructive direction.”
857 دن سے ناحق قید عمران خان سے فیملی کی ملاقات کا دن، تینوں بہنیں ملاقات کیلئے اڈیالہ جیل کے باہر پہنچ گئیں pic.twitter.com/O7sAX9K08D
He acknowledged that the Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq had expressed support for facilitating meetings. “The Speaker has always played a positive role,” he said.
Barrister Gohar added that the PTI founder had authorised Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir to speak on his behalf. He said he had already briefed the founder on previous and current developments, stressing that the “word ‘tension’ must be removed from politics.”
Dr Uzma and Noreen accused authorities of keeping Khan in unlawful solitary confinement for the past four weeks, insisting that such treatment exceeds legal limits.
They said solitary confinement beyond four days was itself a violation of the law. “Imran Khan has been kept in solitary confinement for four weeks. Lock someone in a room for even two days and imagine what they go through,” they remarked.
They warned that they would no longer tolerate what they termed “illegal and punitive isolation.” The sisters said that once an independent judiciary was restored, those responsible would face legal consequences.
“If they attempt to place the PTI founder in solitary confinement again, we will not remain silent,” they said, adding that those orchestrating such actions “will themselves end up in jail.”
PTI rejects govt medical report on Imran
Separately, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja rejected the medical examination and report prepared by government doctors for PTI founder, insisting the party would only accept an assessment conducted by his personal physician.
A five-member medical team from PIMS Hospital conducted a full medical examination of the PTI founder at the request of the jail authorities. The team comprised of General Physician Dr Ali Arif, General Surgeon Dr Tariq Abdullah, Pathology Specialist Dr Saman Waqar, Dermatologist Dr Mubashir and Lab Technician Nauman Iqbal.
Speaking to the media near Adiala Jail, Raja said PTI had no confidence in any official medical findings. “We do not accept the report of government doctors. Strange reports have been issued in the past as well. Until Imran Khan’s personal doctor examines him, we will not accept any government medical report,” he stated.
He said he was unaware of what was discussed between their parliamentary party and Rana Sanaullah but added that if the issue of meeting the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi had been raised, “then that is appropriate.”
He noted that the nature of future protests would be decided by Achakzai and Abbas. “We come here peacefully and within the bounds of the Constitution and law. The state uses force. You tell us—when meetings are denied despite court orders, what should we do?” he asked.
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Raja emphasised that PTI would not be intimidated. “We will make full efforts. Our protest, our struggle, our resistance will remain within constitutional and legal limits. Our entire movement is constitutional,” he said.
When asked about harsh language used against prominent figures, he clarified that PTI as a party had no policy of using such rhetoric. “If something appears on social media, we have nothing to do with it. We have even responded patiently to false allegations in press conferences,” he added.
With the protest gaining momentum, police strengthened their presence at the Factory Naka checkpoint. Female officers were instructed to move to the site, while streetlights on Adiala Road near the sit-in were switched off.
Prison vans and water-cannon vehicles were brought in as precautionary measures. Officials said they were evaluating options to disperse the crowd if required. The administration maintained that necessary steps would be taken to uphold law and order as the number of participants continued to grow.
The development comes as Information Minister Ataullah Tarar ruled out meetings between PTI leaders and Khan’s family last week, accusing Dr Uzma of foul play. He said, “The meetings have been suspended,” while warning that anyone attempting to create law-and-order disruptions outside the jail would face FIRs and strict legal action. “The gloves are off,” he added.
High security measures
The protest followed a day of heightened security around Adiala Jail, where commercial centres and educational institutions from Gorakhpur to the Dahgal checkpoint remained closed. A special two-shift security plan was issued, with more than 1,200 police personnel deployed, including SHOs from 20 police stations, eight DSPs and two SPs.
Forty-eight female commandos, six lady inspectors and teams from the RMP Force, Punjab Constabulary, Dolphin Squad and Elite Force were also stationed in the area. SP Saddar Anum Sher supervised the security operation, while SSP Operations Tariq Malik inspected arrangements on site.