Imran family irked at PTI leadership
Frustration within the family of jailed PTI leader Imran Khan has resurfaced, with his sisters openly expressing dissatisfaction over the party leadership's response as they call for renewed pressure on the government to ensure medical treatment and family access.
In a fresh push, the family has urged PTI lawmakers and senior leaders to assemble outside Adiala Jail on Tuesday (today), seeking to compel authorities to allow access and provide proper medical care for the former prime minister.
Aleema Khanum, one of Imran's sisters, on Monday called on PTI MNAs, MPAs, senators and senior leaders to gather at the jail.
In a post on X, she said the move was aimed at forcing authorities to allow access and ensure proper medical care for her brother.
She said the family was demanding immediate access for lawyers and relatives, transfer of Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for specialist treatment in the presence of his personal doctor and family, and urgent hearing of bail applications of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.
She also alleged that both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were being held in solitary confinement, describing it as unlawful and in violation of human rights standards.
The development comes as another sister, Noreen Khan, expressed clear disappointment over PTI lawmakers for failing to exert sufficient pressure from within parliament.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, she said: "Those who are in assemblies came through Imran Khan's votes.
It is their responsibility to raise their voice for him. We cannot do what they can from within parliament."
However, Noreen Khan clarified that there are no differences with political allies, including Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Pakistan (TTAP). "We are not involved in political matters. Our only demand is access to Imran Khan and that his party and allies continue to raise their voice for his medical treatment," she said.
Responding to a question regarding a recent meeting between Imran Khan's sisters and TTAP leaders Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, she described it as an informal tea gathering with no political agenda.
TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Yusufzai said Noreen and Uzma Khan conveyed disappointment over PTI's role during a meeting with the family on Sunday.
Importantly, Yusufzai revealed that back-channel contacts with the government have been re-established at a "hard line" level after a considerable gap. He, however, declined to provide further details.
On Aleema Khanam's call for a gathering outside Adiala Jail, Yusufzai said a large turnout of PTI leaders would increase pressure on the government, which he described as necessary in the current situation.
The Express Tribune reached out to PTI Secretary Information Sheikh Waqas Akram, PTI K-P President Junaid Akbar and Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan for their response to Aleema Khanam's call, but none responded till the filing of this report.