Easing Pakistan’s nationwide tensions concerning the well-being of its incarcerated former premier and founder of the highly politically prominent faction Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, Uzma Khan, the ex-PM’s sister, confirmed that he is currently in good health, after the PTI held massive protests outside the Rawalpindi-based Adiala Jail, where Khan is currently incarcerated.
“I will provide in-depth updates after consultations with my sisters (Aleema Khan and Noreen Khan),” she said while speaking to reporters outside the prison complex, after meeting her brother.
The meeting came shortly after prison authorities greenlit Khan’s request to meet the PTI founder, following a hiatus that has spanned weeks, with many speculations arising nationwide concerning Imran Khan’s safety.
The PTI had repeatedly claimed that the former premier was in poor health, with the continued refusal of authorities to grant Khan’s sisters and the party leadership permission from meeting him despite legal clearance, deepening fears, with some even believing that he had been killed in prison.
Tensions further soared after party leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had repeatedly been denied access to visit the jailed ex-PM last month, even after holding a 16-hour sit-in, further incensing party workers.
The PTI after this had threatened to carry out mass demonstrations outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and then march towards Adiala Jail on Dec 2, to pressure authorities for allowing the party leadership and his family members to with Imran Khan.
Ahead of the Tuesday’s scheduled protest, the administrations in both capital and Rawalpindi had announced the imposition of Section 144 of the country’s Criminal Procedure Code in the two cities, banning all public gatherings and protests.
Government officials, justifying their actions, said that despite the legal clearance, jail rules did not allow political meetings to be held between prisoners and outside visitors, in order to ensure the security of not only the ex-premier but also other prisoners, alleging that the PTI only ever met with him to discuss political strategies.
Elevating security personnel to be on high alert, there was heavy deployment outside the prison complex, with five additional checkpoints set up along Adiala Jail Road under a special security plan.
Police deployment included personnel from 12 police stations, women officers, and over 700 security officials equipped with anti-riot gear. Vehicles were only allowed to proceed after strict checking, with law-enforcement agencies coordinating to maintain public order.
Speaking to journalists at Factory Naka, Aleema Khan claimed that the incarcerated PTI founder had been kept in solitary confinement for a month.
Strongly criticising the large security deployment outside the prison complex, she claimed that the police had even “left dirty water on the road” and that the government appeared “fearful of a family visit”.
“They have deployed half of Punjab’s police here today,” she alleged. “We cannot understand what they are so afraid of.”
Responding to a question, Aleema Khan said that authorities were “worried about her sister (Noreen’s) interview with Indian media”, but vowed to voice concerns globally.
“Meeting our brother is our legal and constitutional right,” she said, adding that the family would wait “as long as necessary” until the meeting was allowed.
She also accused the Punjab province Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz of putting forth “undemocratic” barriers, such as the high police restrictions and security deployment for a simple meeting between family members.
The sons of the imprisoned former prime minister have also expressed fears that authorities may be concealing “something irreversible” about his condition after more than three weeks without any verifiable information regarding his well-being.
