Rawalpindi, April 15, 2025: The sisters of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan were denied access to meet him at Adiala Jail, prompting Aleema Khan to lead a peaceful roadside protest outside the prison gates.
Tuesday was marked as a designated visitation day for Khan, with family members of his wife Bushra Bibi and several legal representatives also arriving at the facility. However, as the sisters approached the Gorakhpur checkpoint near the jail, they were turned away without explanation.
Frustrated and undeterred, Aleema Khan exited her vehicle and sat down on the pavement in protest, declaring that she would not leave until they were granted access. “They deceived us last time. We won’t move today,” she told reporters.
Responding to the jail administration’s earlier statement that Khan himself did not wish to meet family members, Aleema Khan dismissed the claim as absurd. “Is this something anyone would believe? He demanded a meeting and made noise inside the jail for it,” she said, citing a witness close to the family.
Aleema accused the authorities of deliberately stalling and placing hurdles in their way. She reiterated that unless all three sisters were allowed entry together, they would continue their protest and not back down.
“We don’t accept any minus-one formula. Either we go together or not at all,” she said firmly.
Several lawyers, including Barrister Ali Zafar and Barrister Gohar, were also present but were reportedly discouraged from pursuing the family’s right to visitation.
This latest standoff mirrors a similar incident earlier this month, where the sisters were stopped, briefly detained, and later dropped off far from the jail after being denied access. The repeated denials have heightened concern among PTI supporters over what they view as an increasing effort to isolate the former premier.
Imran Khan remains incarcerated at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, facing a host of legal challenges following his removal from office through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022. Despite his imprisonment, Khan continues to command strong support from his political base.
