On Thursday, police blocked several senior position leaders and family members in the prison former Prime Minister Imran Khan from meeting him in Adiala prison and triggered protests outside the facility.
Among those who were stopped were Imran’s sister Aleema Khan, her two sisters, opposition leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, PTI leader Zartaj Yellow, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Niazullah Niazi and several others.
Security staff who were deployed on various police checkpoints turned them away with reference to security concerns.
Aleema Khan and her sisters staged a sit-in-protest against the police block and refused to leave.
“We were sure we would meet him today, but once again we are lied to,” Aleema told journalists. The family maintained that they would not leave until they were granted access.
At a separate checkpoint, Omar Ayub was captured. In a speech with the media, Ayub criticized the government of what he called “financial deception” and questioned its leadership of national foundations, especially in relation to Balochistan.
He accused Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government of ‘dishonesty and bad governance’.
Ptis Zartaj Yellow was also denied entry near the Daighhal checkpoint.
She condemned the blockade and called it politically motivated. “They have closed Adiala Road and turned into a view. They are afraid that we will meet our leader,” she told journalists. She also criticized government officials for “double standards” and “abuse of authority.”
Religious leader Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Niazullah Niazi were similarly stopped. Hamid Raza expressed frustration at what he called “selective permits”, which was awarded for prison visits.
“Imran Khan represents the nation. If that’s how a former prime minister is being treated, how can ordinary citizens expect justice?” he said.
Raza also rejected claims that suggested divisions into the opposition ranks. “I will never be part of any compromised group. I reject compromise with contempt,” he added, referring to alleged political back door actions.
Earlier this week, court orders had allegedly allowed visits to certain names presented by Imran Khan’s legal team.
However, several leaders claimed that they were denied access despite being on the approved list.
