Rawalpindi, January 29, 2026: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, along with PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and party members, camped overnight at a police picket near Adiala Jail on Thursday, demanding a meeting with former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Afridi, who has been attempting to meet Imran since taking office in October last year, said the sit-in was in response to continued denial of access to the former premier by the prison authorities, despite court-mandated meeting dates on Tuesday and Thursday.
Speaking to the media at the spot, Afridi said, “Most of [PTI] parliamentarians have also reached the spot and some others will be arriving shortly. This is about our leader’s life. We will not let this get normalised. We will spend the entire night here. We are waiting for a meeting between Imran Khan sahib and his family and personal physician.”
Afridi added that if deliberate obstacles were being created to worsen Imran’s situation, “all responsibility lies with the government. Those who are not allowing the meeting will be responsible.” He noted that allowing Imran’s sisters to meet him could prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the party had submitted a list of individuals entitled to meet Imran, as directed by the Islamabad High Court, and all listed persons were present at the picket. “We will not return without meeting the PTI founder today. This is Imran Khan’s human right,” Raja said.
The protest follows PTI concerns about Imran Khan’s health. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed earlier that the former premier underwent a medical procedure for an eye ailment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on Saturday night. Afridi expressed “serious reservations” regarding the former prime minister’s health, while Raja said Imran’s transfer to PIMS was conducted secretly, denying his family and personal physician the opportunity to be present.
Ahead of Afridi’s arrival, Rawalpindi police deployed strict security measures around Adiala Jail and adjoining areas. Police pickets were established at Shaigan Healthcare factory, Dahgal, Gorakhpur, and Adiala Road, with female officers deployed as well. Checkpoints were also set up at M1 and M2 motorways toll plazas and other strategic points, including Committee Chowk, Liaquat Bagh, GPO Chowk, Chungi No. 22, Khawaja Corporation Chowk, Gulshanabad Chowk, Thalian, and Chakri Interchange.
The overnight sit-in marks the latest in a series of protests and sit-ins by PTI supporters seeking access to the former prime minister, who has faced restrictions on visits by family members, lawyers, and party representatives in recent weeks.
