ISLAMABAD: Uzma Khan, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, dismissed speculations about her brother’s health on Monday, stating he is physically fine but is being subjected to continuous solitary confinement and mental torture. The meeting was held following a period of 29 days during which no visitors were allowed.
According to sources within the jail administration, Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was also permitted to meet him on Tuesday. The scheduled Tuesday meeting saw several senior PTI leaders and legal counsel arrive at the jail, submitting a list of names to the administration, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Barrister Salman Akram Raja, Salman Safdar, Ali Zaman, Sardar Nabi and Talat Mahmood. However, the jail administration ultimately allowed only Dr. Uzma Khan to proceed with the visit.
Dr. Uzma entered the jail through Gate No. 5 and met with her brother. Following the meeting, she spoke to the media, confirming that Imran Khan’s physical health is “completely fine.” However, she detailed his strict confinement conditions, stating the PTI founder is “kept fully confined in his cell and is allowed to step outside only for a short period.”
Dr. Uzma conveyed a message from her brother, who claimed he is “neither allowed to talk to anyone nor meet anyone.” She further reported that Imran Khan was “very angry” over the situation. Avoiding further details of the anxiously awaited meeting, Uzma noted she would share more after consulting her two sisters. Imran’s sister later outlined the family’s plan, saying that as per court orders, six family members should meet Imran Khan on Tuesday, followed by six party leaders on Thursday.
Uzma Khan, in a later statement, reiterated that Imran’s health is “completely fine,” but noted he had been denied meetings for four weeks. She added that his spouse, Bushra Bibi, is also being held in solitary confinement. She conveyed Imran’s instructions regarding Bar Council elections, stating that Senator Hamid Khan and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja would select candidates. She also called for official notification of Mahmood Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir as leaders of the opposition in the National Assembly and Senate, respectively. Uzma further affirmed that KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has the full support of the party founder, adding sarcastically, “their constitution and all the laws apply only to PTI.” Uzma said the founder was disappointed over the participation of certain party leaders in the NDU event, adding he said those who attended the ceremony were “Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq of the party” and that they had no place in its ranks.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, speaking near Adiala Jail, said that if meetings had been allowed earlier, concerns about the PTI founder’s well being would not have escalated. “No one had met the PTI founder since November 4, but Alhamdulillah, a sister met him today [Tuesday],” he stated. “Keeping the party founder in isolation is equivalent to isolating 70 percent of the people.” He confirmed that the jailed leader’s health is fine, as conveyed by Uzma, and mentioned that Imran Khan has nominated Shahid Khattak as the parliamentary leader while continuing to oversee party affairs. The PTI chairman said that political issues should be resolved politically. Imran Khan is a former prime minister; it is his right to have meetings. It is good if the founder gets to speak with his children. “The situation should now move towards improvement. We believe that problems cannot be solved by wielding a stick all the time,” he added.
Earlier, Imran’s sister Aleema Khan told media at a checkpoint near Adiala Jail said it is their legal and constitutional right to meet their brother, stating, “We will keep waiting until we meet him.” She strongly criticised authorities after being denied access to her brother at Adiala Jail.
She stated that the family intends to wait at the location until a meeting is granted. She questioned the administration’s motives, asking why are the authorities afraid of allowing a meeting between the PTI founder and his family. “Allow the meeting, and this entire problem will end,” she remarked. Describing the scene outside the jail, Aleema noted an excessive security presence, remarking that it appeared as though “half of Punjab’s police” had been deployed to the area. She characterised the police deployment, specifically citing Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, as “undemocratic.”
In a specific allegation regarding obstruction, she claimed that authorities had allowed dirty water to spill onto the road to deter their presence. She expressed deep concern regarding the regional optics of the situation, specifically noting that the matter was now being discussed in the Indian media. She warned that if the family continues to be denied access, they are prepared to escalate the issue globally. “We will raise our voice on media platforms across the world,” she declared.
Meanwhile, the PTI founder’s three sisters, Islamabad President Amir Mughal and PTI workers chanted slogans in favour of Imran Khan while marching towards the jail. Separately, PTI leaders and members of allied parties staged a sit in outside the Islamabad High Court. The party’s chief whip, Aamir Dogar, led loud sloganeering highlighting Imran Khan’s popularity across Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri said: “Section 144 has been imposed before we came here; were we coming to throw stones?” he questioned. Referring to a recent IMF report, he claimed corruption of Rs 5,300 billion had been committed, pushing Pakistan toward destruction. “We want the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution,” he asserted, criticising, the government’s reliance on external approval for decisions. He also slammed the government for using the PECA law to “strangulate” the media and insisted that Imran Khan has the right to legal access, meetings with family, and timely hearings for his cases.
Meanwhile, PTI workers in Swabi staged a protest near the Swabi Interchange Rest Area. They burned tires and suspended traffic on the motorway. Long queues of vehicles caused severe difficulties for travellers. After Uzma Khan’s meeting with the PTI founder, PTI called off the protest and traffic on the motorway was restored.
Meanwhile, speaking on Geo News’ programme ‘Capital Talk’, host Hamid Mir discussed the issue with Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, who said that the PTI founder was allowed a one hour meeting each with his ex wife Bushra Bibi and later with Uzma Khan. “Meeting family and lawyers is your right, but do not engage in politics. If instructions are taken from the founder, then meetings will be stopped again,” he said. He added that the jail superintendent had told Uzma Khan and set a condition that she would not hold a press conference after the meeting.
In the programme, PTI’s Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Barrister Ali Zafar commented, saying, “Peaceful protest is our right. We will take further instructions from the founder in meetings.” Meanwhile, State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that permission for meetings is given by jail authorities, not the government. Senator Faisal Vawda said that political meetings with the PTI founder are not possible; meetings with sisters are non political and were their right, which has now been granted.
In a statement, Faisal Vawda claimed, “Yesterday I advised you, today you have benefited. Two steps back, one step forward—this is the political way.” He added that KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has taken a positive step by not creating unrest in Adiala and Islamabad. Faisal Vawda said, “The chief minister and governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have honoured the martyrs. Tell me, if we do not stand for our own, who will?”
