Adiala tensions flare again as Imran Khan’s sisters stage new 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 forces.

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

When the official meeting hours ended, both family members and lawyers were again denied entry, leading to a sit-in led by Aleema. She demanded that Imran Khan be examined by her personal doctors instead of government-appointed medical personnel.

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

At the Dahgal check post, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said meeting with the party’s founder was their legal right. He noted that the Islamabad High Court had ordered family and lawyers to be granted access, but they were still denied. Political differences, he said, should not turn into hostility. He added that the situation would ease once the meetings with Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi resume.

Gohar further said that the Speaker of the National Assembly had also supported the resumption of meetings and that Imran Khan had authorized Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir to lead political dialogue. He emphasized that the language of confrontation must cease.

As the protest gained momentum, the police increased their presence at the Factory Naka checkpoint. Female officers were asked to move to the spot while the street lights on Adiala Road near the sit-in were switched off.

Prison wagons and water cannon vehicles were brought in as precautions. Officials said they were evaluating options to disperse the crowd if necessary. The administration maintained that necessary steps would be taken to maintain 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 for foul play. He said, “The meetings have been suspended,” while warning that anyone trying to create law and order disturbances outside the jail will face FIRs and strict legal action. “The gloves are off,” he added.

High security measures

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

48 women commandos, six lady inspectors and teams of 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 at the site.

Earlier, a five-member medical team from PIMS Hospital conducted a full medical examination of the PTI founder on the request of the jail authorities. The team consisted of chief physician dr. Ali Arif, senior physician dr. Tariq Abdullah, pathology specialist dr. Saman Waqar, dermatologist dr. Mubashir and laboratory technician Nauman Iqbal.