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Leaders and family members of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan were denied permission to meet him at Adiala Jail on Tuesday despite it being a scheduled visitation day, party leaders and officials said.
According to PTI leaders, the allotted meeting time expired without any visitor being allowed inside the prison.
Khan’s three sisters — Aleema Khan, Uzma Khanum, and Noreen Niazi — PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja, Naeem Panjutha, Niazullah Niazi and other party leaders gathered near the jail along with workers, where heavy police deployment remained in place at multiple points along Adiala Road.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also arrived at the Gorakhpur factory checkpoint with official protocol but was not allowed to meet the PTI founder.
PTI workers continued chanting slogans outside the jail premises as tensions persisted.
Speaking to the media on Adiala Road, Barrister Gohar said the government could establish as many “red zones” as it wanted, but could not stop the public.
“It has become difficult to find words to condemn the obstacles in these meetings,” he said.
He added that the party had hoped for flexibility from the authorities to improve the situation, but alleged that a “hardline attitude” was creating hurdles in prison meetings.
Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said PTI leaders visited Adiala Jail every Tuesday to seek a meeting with Khan.
“Pressure on the government should increase. Those responsible for oppression will have to answer,” he said, warning that if justice was not provided, the nation would have no option except to come onto the streets.
He added that preparations for a protest movement were underway and a formal strategy would be announced soon.
Raja said Khan’s sister last met him on December 2 and claimed there had also been long gaps in meetings after November 4.
“We are a peaceful and organised party and are exercising our constitutional and legal right,” he said, while criticising the government over inflation.
Separately, jail sources confirmed that former prime minister Khan was allowed to meet his wife Bushra Bibi inside the prison conference room.
According to sources, the meeting lasted around 35 minutes, during which discussions were held regarding Bushra Bibi’s latest eye examination, Khan’s health and matters related to medical treatment.
