In a significant development, Uzma Khanum, the sister of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, was finally permitted to meet him inside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail on Tuesday. This meeting ended a prolonged period of restricted access that had sparked widespread protests and rumours regarding the incarcerated leader's well-being.
Ending Weeks of Speculation and Restricted Access
Following the meeting, Uzma Khanum stated that Imran Khan is "completely fine" and in good health. However, she relayed a serious allegation from her brother, quoting him as saying, "they are subjecting him to mental torture, and that Asim Munir is responsible for all of this." Her remarks were shared by PTI USA.
The visit was a break from a pattern where family members and leaders of Imran's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), were repeatedly denied meetings. According to reports, the meeting occurred as several PTI supporters gathered outside the prison, demanding transparency about his condition.
Escalating Tensions and Legal Battles
The Tuesday meeting coincided with planned PTI demonstrations outside the Islamabad High Court and Adiala Jail. The party was protesting against what it called unjustified restrictions on visitation rights. Despite a court order allowing twice-weekly meetings, the family had not been granted access for several weeks prior.
This led Imran's other sister, Aleema Khan, to file a contempt petition against the Adiala Jail superintendent and other officials, accusing them of defying court directions. The petition claimed that jail authorities had blocked visits by family, lawyers, and PTI leaders since March 2024.
Tensions had escalated further when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was denied a meeting for the eighth consecutive time, prompting him to stage a sit-in outside the prison.
Allegations of Police Brutality and Broader Concerns
Concerns over Imran Khan's condition intensified last week after a disturbing incident. His three sisters, including Noreen Niazi, alleged they were assaulted by Punjab police during a peaceful protest outside Adiala Jail. Niazi, 71, gave a harrowing account, stating she was seized by her hair, thrown to the ground, and dragged, sustaining visible injuries.
She accused the police of a "brutal and orchestrated assault," calling it part of a broader pattern of force against peaceful protesters. These access restrictions and incidents fueled rampant rumours, including unverified Afghan media reports claiming Imran Khan had died in custody.
His son, Kasim Khan, demanded proof of life on social media platform X, noting it had been 845 days since his father was jailed and alleging he spent the last six weeks in a death cell without family access.
Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 in multiple cases. While jail officials maintain he is in good health, PTI alleges the strict access restrictions of over a month are imposed under army influence, a claim officials deny. The party views Uzma Khanum's meeting as merely a first step, insisting that regular, unhindered access must now be ensured as per court orders.
