RAWALPINDI: No leaders from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) or family members of Imran Khan were able to visit him and his wife, Bushra Bibi, at the Adiala Jail on Tuesday, despite it being the scheduled day for visit.
Sources indicated that the PTI secretary general had formally submitted a list of six designated visitors to the prison administration. The list comprised Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Barrister Salman Akram Raja, Intizar Hussain Panjutha, Ali Rehman, Chingiz Khan Kakar, and Ali Ejaz Buttar. However, neither the specified party leaders nor any immediate family members arrived at the facility before the designated visiting hours concluded.
The lack of visitors coincided with a massive security lockdown implemented throughout the area, following the imposition of Section 144 in Rawalpindi and the official designation of the jail’s surroundings as a red zone. High-level security protocols were enforced as heavy police contingents and Anti-Riot Force units blocked off access roads with barriers. A water cannon was also deployed directly outside the correctional facility as a precautionary measure. Furthermore, the district administration ordered the temporary closure of all commercial establishments in the vicinity, including shops, hotels, tandoors, and petrol stations.
The strict measures were part of a comprehensive security plan activated by the Rawalpindi Police earlier that morning. A total of 924 personnel were mobilized to secure the prison perimeter across two distinct shifts. This deployment featured a command structure including two superintendents of police, one assistant superintendent, four deputy superintendents, and 15 inspectors and station house officers. They were supported by specialized units from the Elite Force, the Anti-Riot Force, and female police officers. The entire operation was monitored directly by the senior superintendent of police (Operations) and the city police officer of Rawalpindi, with nine strategic security pickets established across the jail premises to maintain total control of the area. The Capital Police on Tuesday detained Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Anwar Taj at 26 Number Toll Plaza and pushed party workers back from the area. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi remained present at Toll Plaza, while PTI leader Atif Khan held talks with senior police officials. Negotiations between the PTI leadership and police over reopening the route were held. The closure of Toll Plaza caused heavy traffic congestion on the Taxila GT Road. The Islamabad administration had blocked the GT Road by placing containers, resulting in severe traffic jams in which several ambulances were also trapped. After taking Anwar Taj into custody, police shifted him to a prisoner transport vehicle. The convoy of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister remained stationed at the Toll Plaza, while police removed unrelated individuals from the area.
Meanwhile, citizens near the Toll Plaza removed barriers on their own and reopened the route for traffic. On the other side, citizens also cleared a temporary obstruction placed on the road leading from the airport.
Authorities in the federal capital sealed Chungi No 26 by placing shipping containers on both sides of the road to block Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders from reaching the Adiala Jail.
The security measure triggered severe traffic congestion on the main route leading from Islamabad to airport, resulting in long queues of stranded vehicles. Among the affected commuters were citizens enduring intense heat.
Speaking to media at Chungi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi stated that the PTI leadership had arrived peacefully to meet party founder Imran Khan. He emphasized that party workers have consistently shown restraint, and he characterized the decision to block an elected provincial chief executive and his entire cabinet as discriminatory. On the other side, a four-member medical team on Tuesday conducted a medical examination of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan at the Adiala Jail.
According to jail sources, the team comprised eye specialist Professor Dr Nadeem Qureshi, Professor Arif Khan, Dr Saman Waqar, and Dr Ali Arif.
The medical team, accompanied by paramedical staff and medical equipment, arrived at the Central Jail Rawalpindi at around 4:30pm. The sources said the doctors examined Imran’s eyes at the jail hospital before carrying out a comprehensive medical check-up.
Later, PTI Information Secretary Sh Waqas Akram said his party condemned the forcible blocking of Imran Khan’s family, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, his cabinet and other lawmakers after they exited the Motorway en route to Adiala Jail, billing it an assault on democracy.
