ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s sister on Tuesday met him at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail and said the ex-premier is in “good health,” following concerns raised by Khan’s party over his health condition.
Khan has been jailed on a slew of charges since Aug. 2023, and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had been saying that neither his family members nor party affiliates were allowed a meeting with the jailed ex-premier since Oct. 27.
The PTI staged several protests in recent weeks against what it said was the government’s denial of a meeting with Khan, whose family and party alleged that he was being kept in solitary confinement and denied basic human rights. The government and jail authorities denied this.
Khan’s sisters, Uzma Khanum and Aleema Khanum, on Tuesday arrived at the Adiala prison to meet the ex-premier after authorities reportedly gave permission for the meeting. Scores of Khan supporters were also present outside the prison on the occasion.
“[He is] in good health,” Uzma told reporters after the meeting which she said lasted 20 minutes. “[He] is confined to a room all day, can briefly step outside. There is no communication with anyone.”
The development came after the PTI announced protests outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and Adiala prison over restricted access to Khan despite judicial orders.
Caravans of supporters from the neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, which is ruled by the PTI, were en route to Islamabad, according to the PTI and footage on Pakistani news channels.
On Monday, the government barred public gatherings in Rawalpindi and Islamabad under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Pakistan’s deputy interior minister Tallal Chaudhry on Tuesday vowed to uphold the preventive law-and-order measure barring public rallies and processions, saying no such activity would be allowed in the twin cities.
“Section 144 is imposed for the protection of life and property,” Chaudhry said while speaking to the media in front of parliament.
“There has been an incident in Islamabad,” he said, referring to a suicide bombing outside the district court last month. “Whether they [the PTI leaders] come to Islamabad High Court or go to Adiala, a ban of 144 will be enforced without any discrimination.”
Rumors swirled in recent weeks about possible transfer of Khan from Adiala prison, though a jail official told Reuters the former prime minister was in good condition and said he was not aware of any plan to move him to a higher-security facility.
Khan’s family previously said the lack of communication had fueled fears over what it called a deliberate effort to push the ex-premier out of public sight.
Khan, who was ousted in a no-trust vote in 2022, has maintained that the cases against him are politically motivated. His party has long campaigned against the military and government, accusing the generals of ousting him together with his rivals. Khan’s opponents deny this, while the military says it does not meddle in politics.
