Adiala tensions flare again as Imran Khan’s sisters stage fresh sit-in outside jail

Sisters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan staged a fresh protest outside Adiala Jail on Tuesday after being denied permission to meet him, prompting authorities to deploy additional police contingents.

According to Express News, Noreen Khan, Aleema Khan and Dr Uzma, along with other party leaders, arrived for a scheduled family meeting but were stopped by police at the Factory Naka checkpoint.

Despite Tuesday being designated for family and lawyers’ visits, jail authorities informed Aleema and senior PTI leadership at 4pm—an hour before the end of visiting hours—that no meetings would be allowed. Officials also declined to commit to granting a visit on Thursday, 11 December.

In response, Imran’s sisters sat in protest outside the facility. They were later joined by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Rehana Dar, Aamir Dogar, Senator Aon Pasha and several party MNAs and local leaders. The sit-in continued late into the night.

Aleema demanded that Imran Khan be examined by his personal physicians instead of government-appointed medical staff.

She stated that the protest was not directed at the police, whom she described as “our brothers,” saying that officers themselves were under pressure. She added that family meetings with Imran Khan had been suspended for weeks, alleging that the former prime minister was being subjected to “mental torture.” She questioned what constituted “political discussion” and criticised the decision to keep him in solitary confinement. She further urged journalists to ask responsible questions.

At the Dahgal checkpoint, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said meeting the party founder was their legal right. He noted that the Islamabad High Court had ordered family and lawyers to be given access, yet they were still being denied. Political disagreements, he said, should not turn into hostility. He added that the situation would ease once meetings with Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi resumed.

Gohar further said the National Assembly Speaker had also supported the resumption of meetings, and that Imran Khan had authorised Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir to lead political dialogue. He stressed that the language of confrontation needed to end.

With the protest gaining momentum, police strengthened their presence at the Factory Naka checkpoint. Female officers were instructed to move to the site, while streetlights on Adiala Road near the sit-in were switched off.

Prison vans and water-cannon vehicles were brought in as precautionary measures. Officials said they were evaluating options to disperse the crowd if required. The administration maintained that necessary steps would be taken to uphold law and order as the number of participants continued to grow.

The development comes as Information Minister Ataullah Tarar ruled out meetings between PTI leaders and Imran Khan’s family last week, accusing Dr Uzma of foul play. He said, “The meetings have been suspended,” while warning that anyone attempting to create law-and-order disruptions outside the jail would face FIRs and strict legal action. “The gloves are off,” he added.

High security measures

The protest followed a day of heightened security around Adiala Jail, where commercial centres and educational institutions from Gorakhpur to the Dahgal checkpoint remained closed. A special two-shift security plan was issued, with more than 1,200 police personnel deployed, including SHOs from 20 police stations, eight DSPs and two SPs.

Forty-eight female commandos, six lady inspectors and teams from the RMP Force, Punjab Constabulary, Dolphin Squad and Elite Force were also stationed in the area. SP Saddar Anum Sher supervised the security operation, while SSP Operations Tariq Malik inspected arrangements on site.

Earlier, a five-member medical team from PIMS Hospital conducted a full medical examination of the PTI founder at the request of the jail authorities. The team comprised of General Physician Dr Ali Arif, General Surgeon Dr Tariq Abdullah, Pathology Specialist Dr Saman Waqar, Dermatologist Dr Mubashir and Lab Technician Nauman Iqbal.