Brief Detention of Imran Khan’s Sisters Follows Adiala Road Sit-in
In a tense turn of events late on Tuesday, Imran Khan’s sisters – Aleema Khan, Noreen Khan Niazi, and Uzma Khanum – were briefly detained by police in Rawalpindi. This incident unfolded near Central Jail Rawalpindi on Adiala Road, where they had been staging a sit-in demanding to meet the jailed PTI founder.
The sisters of the incarcerated leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), along with dozens of party workers, had gathered on Adiala Road. Their primary demand was an immediate meeting with Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, after reportedly being denied permission.
Authorities had repeatedly urged Khan’s sisters to clear the road. However, negotiations failed, with Aleema Khan reportedly refusing to call off the peaceful protest. Subsequently, police initiated a crackdown against the PTI’s sit-in at the Gorakhpur picket.
During the operation, officers reportedly sprayed water on the road before detaining approximately 8 to 10 PTI activists, including Imran Khan’s sisters. This measure was taken after efforts to disperse the crowd proved unsuccessful.
The three sisters were then taken into custody by the police. They were later released near the Chakri Interchange, concluding their brief detention. Following her release, Aleema Khan addressed journalists, providing her account of the incident.
Aleema Khan alleged that her sister, Noreen Khan Niazi, was “dragged on the road by the women police personnel” during the police action. She emphasized the forceful nature of their removal from the protest site. This account was widely reported by SindhNews.com.
Previous Obstacles for Imran Khan’s Sisters and Visitors
This development follows previous instances where high-profile figures faced difficulties meeting the PTI founder. Last month, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was also refused permission to meet Imran Khan at Adiala Jail during his visit.
CM Afridi, accompanied by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, had arrived at the jail, only to return without a meeting. He spoke to journalists, stressing the importance of such meetings for receiving “policy guidelines” and questioning the obstruction.
Aleema Khan herself has been a frequent visitor at Adiala, often serving as a key conduit for conveying Imran Khan’s messages to PTI workers and the media. Uzma Khanum was allowed to meet the former premier on a previous occasion when CM Afridi was denied.
The brief detention of Imran Khan’s sisters has brought renewed attention to the restrictions surrounding visits to the incarcerated PTI founder. While the sisters were quickly released, the incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the PTI and authorities, particularly concerning access to its leadership.