The sisters of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan on Tuesday abandoned their sit-in near Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail and headed to Islamabad for a protest rally.
Sit-ins a short distance away from the prison on Tuesdays and Thursdays by PTI workers and supporters, as well as Imran’s sisters, have become a usual occurrence as the former premier’s family continues to be restricted from meeting the ex-premier.
A court order issued by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on March 24, 2025 mandated that meetings with Imran would be permitted twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Despite the IHC’s order, Imran’s sisters — Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Khan Niazi — along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, have tried and failed to meet Imran.
On Tuesday, the party and Imran’s sisters had staged a sit-in near Adiala jail after again being denied a meeting with the incarcerated prime minister.
However, on Tuesday night, the party’s media coordinators told Dawn that the sisters suddenly ended the demonstration and were making their way to Murree Road to stage a protest rally. They added that there was no definite plan and that it was the sisters’ decision.
“Today, Chairman Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were not granted a meeting with the family. Khan sahib’s sisters and party workers have set off for a protest rally in Islamabad,” the PTI said in a post on X.
Another video posted by the party showed Aleema and several PTI workers chanting slogans as they marched on the streets of Rawalpindi.
The PTI workers and leaders moved towards Islamabad despite the deployment of police and other law enforcement agencies.
Aleema, while talking to media persons, said that the protesters had decided to march toward Islamabad as authorities were not allowing the family to meet Imran.
She claimed that the “powers that be” were scared of just 2,000 to 3,000 people. “What will happen if 10,000 people reach here and start marching towards Islamabad?” she asked.
The development came as reports emerged of authorities rounding up and arresting PTI workers from the sit-in.
Sit-in near Adiala jail
Earlier in the day, the PTI leaders were stopped at DHA Naka instead of Factory Chowk near Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. Imran’s sisters and party leaders held a Quran khwani at the site during the day, but were later allowed to move a little further.
Speaking to reporters, Uzma said that initially, the route was blocked, forcing her and her sisters to traverse a dirt road. She added that the demonstrators decided they would hold a Quran khwani wherever police stop them.
Uzma added that on February 8 — when the PTI and opposition parties have called for a nationwide wheel-jam strike — the whole of Pakistan “will be jammed”.
“Sohail Afridi has been trained by Imran Khan and he is following his directions,” she said. “It is [because of the] training of Imran Khan that workers are holding a peaceful protest,” she said.
Uzma alleged that Imran’s opposition to military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was why he was imprisoned.
“However, they have received directions from abroad to holda military operation so it is being conducted,” she claimed.
She further said that the court was helpless and unable to provide justice to politicians, alleging that police demanded bribes from PTI supporters outside Adiala jail.
“Since the May 9 incident, police enter homes and demand money from PTI supporters,” she claimed. Uzma also urged the public to fly kites emblazoned with Imran’s name and picture on them on Feb 8, when Basant will be celebrated in Lahore.
Aleema, meanwhile, told reporters that the jail superintendent was not allowing them to get the vakalatnama (power of attorney) signed.
Replying to another question, Aleema said that the demonstrators wanted Imran’s release instead of meetings.
Shafiullah Jan, the adviser to the KP chief minister on information, said that in the past, PTI workers would be stopped by police three kilometres from the jail, but on Tuesday they were stopped 8km away from the premises.
“The people who are committed to the PTI … to the street movement … are present here,” he said.
Jan stated that meetings with family and party leaders were allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays as per the courts order but the orders were not being implemented.
Jan further said that KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was taking all possible steps to address the issues of the province, despite opposition.
“There were some people who launched a campaign against him, which has since died,” he said. “The way he is leading the street movement, how he is governing KP … he visits the displaced persons’ camp frequently and personally monitors arrangements,” he said.
PTI Islamabad President Amir Mughal said that Imran was facing jail just for the masses and youth.
“I urge [the] masses to come out of their houses and hold protests,” he said. He noted that he was facing 60 first information reports but still managed to reach Adiala jail every Tuesday.
“We will close the whole country on February 8,” he continued. “Sohail Afridi, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas are chosen by Imran Khan and we will support them. They all are resisting.”
Imran, imprisoned since August 2023, is serving a sentence at the Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case and also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the protests of May 9, 2023.
Earlier in December, a United Nations special rapporteur warned that Imran was being held in conditions that could amount to inhuman or degrading treatment and called on Pakistani authorities to comply with international norms and standards.
