RAWALPINDI: Law enforcement authorities on Tuesday detained dozens of activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) near Adiala Jail, following heightened tensions and sporadic clashes during a scheduled meeting day for party founder Imran Khan.
Despite a high-profile call for a mass gathering issued last week by Aleema Khan, heavy security measures and persistent rainfall significantly curtailed the expected turnout. The Rawalpindi Police enforced Section 144 across the district and deployed more than 3,200 personnel to manage security and traffic. Authorities set up 57 special checkpoints and used shipping containers to block key access routes to the prison.
At the Marble Factory checkpoint, Imran Khan’s sisters — Aleema Khan, Noreen Khan and Dr Uzma Khan — were stopped and denied further passage by police cordons. Several senior PTI figures reached the area, including MNAs Shahid Khattak and Atif Khan, MPA Meena Khan Afridi, and Shafi Jan, spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister. They were later joined by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Salman Akram Raja.
Despite their presence, jail authorities maintained a suspension of all scheduled meetings with the former prime minister, while no members of Bushra Bibi’s family appeared for visitation.
Tensions escalated when groups of PTI workers breached initial security lines and pelted stones at law enforcement personnel, injuring several officers, including the SHO of Saddar Bairooni. Police responded with tear gas to disperse the demonstrators and carried out multiple arrests. By late evening, protesters had largely been cleared from the vicinity of Adiala Road.
Following the dispersal and continued refusal of authorities to grant visitation rights, the PTI leaders and the sisters of the party founder left the area. Officials confirmed the site was secured and the situation neutralised by approximately 8:45pm.
