Rawalpindi, Pakistan – Police blocked three of former prime minister Imran Khan’s sisters and a group of Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) activists at the Gorakhpur (sometimes termed “Factory”) checkpoint on Tuesday, prompting Aleema Khan to launch a sit‑in protest. The confrontation unfolded as the family tried to visit Khan, who has been serving a two‑year sentence for corruption convictions at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi’s Punjab district.
Background to the Adiala Jail protests
Imran Khan, the PTI founder and former premier, was jailed in 2023 after the Islamabad anti‑corruption court upheld a conviction on graft charges. Since his incarceration, the PTI’s supporters have repeatedly demanded regular family visits, arguing that the denial of access amounts to “mental torture” and violates basic human rights. The family’s attempts to meet the former leader have been repeatedly thwarted, leading to a series of protests outside the prison’s perimeter.
According to a report by Samaa TV, scheduled weekly visits were partially allowed for some relatives, but several family members, including Aleema Khan, were turned away, sparking the latest confrontation.
Police action and detention of Aleema Khan
At approximately 10 a.m. on Tuesday, police stationed at the Gorakhpur checkpoint denied entry to Aleema Khan, her sisters Uzma Khan and Noreen Khan, as well as several PTI workers who had gathered to support the visit. When the sisters attempted to push through the barricades, officers detained them and placed them in a police van, a move echoed in an earlier report by the Express Tribune, which described a ten‑hour sit‑in that ended with the sisters being taken into custody before being transferred to a holding area in Chakri.
Police later released the women after negotiations, but the incident reignited tensions. A separate account by ABBTakk TV noted that law enforcement used water cannons and female police officers to disperse the crowd after Aleema refused to abandon the sit‑in, underscoring the heightened sensitivity surrounding the presence of women protesters.
Family’s claims of abuse and legal context
During the brief confrontation, Aleema Khan addressed the assembled crowd, urging calm and describing the police as “our brothers” who were “under pressure.” She accused authorities of denying family visits for more than a month, labeling the denial “mental torture.” In statements to reporters, Aleema questioned why her brother was being treated as a “national security threat” and demanded clarification on allegations that he was held in solitary confinement.
Legal experts note that Pakistani law permits prison authorities to restrict visitation for security reasons, but the extended denial without clear justification may contravene international standards on prisoners’ rights. The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the “Nelson Mandela Rules”) require that “visits… be allowed unless there is a justified reason to deny them.”
Political ramifications and response
The latest clash occurs amid a broader wave of PTI‑led protests across Punjab. Both the ruling coalition led by the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the opposition PTI have exchanged accusations of political intimidation. In a statement released after the incident, the PTI’s legal team announced that they would file a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking a directive to allow regular family visits to Imran Khan.
Government spokesperson Shehbaz Sharif, speaking to the press on Wednesday, said the police actions were “necessary to maintain law and order” and that “any illegal obstruction of traffic or public safety will be dealt with firmly.” He also declined to comment on the specifics of the alleged solitary confinement, citing ongoing judicial processes.
The incident has attracted international attention. According to a Reuters briefing on Pakistan’s political climate, repeated protests by PTI supporters have raised concerns about the stability of the country’s democratic institutions and its compliance with human‑rights obligations. The economic fallout is also palpable; the IMF recently green‑lighted an additional $1.2 billion for Pakistan, contingent on reforms that include “transparent legal processes and the protection of civil liberties.”
Looking ahead
Authorities have indicated that a meeting between Aleema Khan and Imran Khan is scheduled for later this week, following negotiations with PTI leaders, as reported by ANI. Whether that meeting will address the family’s grievances or merely serve as a procedural step remains uncertain.
For now, the streets surrounding Adiala Jail remain a focal point for PTI supporters, who continue to chant slogans against the government while monitoring police movements. The episode underscores the volatile mix of legal, political, and human‑rights issues that define Pakistan’s current landscape, and it is likely to shape the narrative surrounding upcoming elections and the country’s relationship with international financial institutions.
