RAWALPINDI (MNN); Imran Khan’s sister, Uzma Khanum, on Tuesday dismissed rumours about the former prime minister’s health, saying he was perfectly fine after she was allowed to meet him in Adiala jail. She said the meeting helped clarify incorrect speculation surrounding his condition.
Uzma was permitted to meet her incarcerated brother earlier in the day. A large number of PTI supporters gathered outside the prison as she went in. After the meeting, she told reporters that although Imran’s health was fine, he was extremely angry and complained of being subjected to mental torture.
She said Imran was kept inside his cell all day and given only limited time outside. He had no communication with anyone, and their meeting lasted roughly 30 minutes. The interaction took place under strict monitoring and without any mobile devices. Uzma did not share further details.
Speaking separately alongside Aleema Khanum and PTI leaders, Uzma said Imran appeared disturbed and angry, alleging that both he and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were being kept in mental torture in a small room. She said he had not been allowed to meet anyone for four weeks. Imran was further upset to hear about the treatment of his sister Noreen Niazi earlier this month.
Uzma said Imran conveyed a message instructing the party to support the candidates nominated by Salman Akram Raja and Hamid Khan in the Pakistan Bar elections. He also directed that Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas be notified as opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, and that Shahid Khattak be appointed as the parliamentary leader of the opposition. He also expressed full confidence in Sohail Afridi.
Issuing a strong warning to party members interacting with government figures, Uzma quoted Imran as saying that anyone playing on both sides had no place in PTI and were the Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq of the party.
Aleema Khanum announced that the sisters would now stage a sit-in outside Adiala every Tuesday until six family members and six lawyers were allowed to meet Imran. She said party workers would hold their own protest every Thursday.
These developments followed PTI’s demonstrations outside the Islamabad High Court and Adiala jail over restrictions on Imran’s visitation rights. The party says its leaders and Imran’s family have been denied access to him for several weeks.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said no one had been allowed to meet Imran or Bushra Bibi since October 27.
Section 144 was enforced in Islamabad and Rawalpindi ahead of the protests to restrict public gatherings.
Tallal Chaudhry’s Warning
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said earlier in the day that Section 144 would be strictly implemented in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and action would be taken without discrimination. He urged PTI-backed parliamentarians to follow the law.
He said the restrictions were imposed due to intelligence reports and linked the matter to security concerns, warning that terrorists often take advantage of such situations. Chaudhry said terrorists frequently use social media apps and VPNs to conceal their identity, and the interior ministry along with PTA was working to regulate VPNs.
Chaudhry also recalled the Peshawar High Court’s ruling against using state resources for political activities, warning that KP officials travelling to Islamabad for politics without proper intimation would face criminal cases.
He reiterated that Section 144 had been enforced to protect citizens’ lives, noting that threats still existed. He also made reference to the violent events of May 9, 2023.
Regarding whether Imran would be shifted to a new Islamabad jail, Chaudhry said it was too early to comment, adding that the facility was still under construction.
Security Tightened in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi police said they had deployed 3,000 officers for security duties. Section 144 was in effect for three days, banning gatherings and rallies. Roads leading to Adiala jail and the Red Zone were partially blocked.
PTI leader Asad Qaiser said opposition lawmakers would first protest outside the IHC and then march to Adiala jail. He said protests were being held because the jail administration was not implementing court orders.
Last week, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi staged a sit-in outside the jail after being refused a meeting with Imran for the eighth time. Imran’s sisters had also held multiple protests in Rawalpindi after being barred from seeing him.
The party accused police of rough treatment and detaining Imran’s sisters during a protest on November 19. There had also been speculation about Imran’s health, which the government and PTI leaders said was unfounded.
