Rawalpindi : Protests broke out near Adiala Jail on Thursday after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers clashed with police over being denied permission to meet party founder Imran Khan. Demonstrators threw stones at security personnel near the Gorakhpur checkpoint, prompting authorities to detain several individuals, including Khan’s sisters and senior party leaders.
According to sources, on a designated meeting day at Adiala Jail, Imran Khan’s sisters, along with Bushra Bibi’s family members Meher-un-Nisa and Mubashra Sheikh, PTI leader Aliya Hamza, and Zaheer Abbas, arrived at the prison. A legal team including Barristers Ali Zafar, Ali Imran Shehzad, Hassnain Sunbal, Raja Mateen, and Khan Aqil Khan also reached the site.
However, Khan’s family members were stopped before reaching the jail. His sisters Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, along with cousin Qasim Khan Niazi, were held back near a private pharmaceutical company. In protest, the family staged a sit-in at the Gorakhpur checkpoint after being denied a meeting.
Police reportedly offered to allow three family members – Uzma Khan, Noreen Khan, and Qasim Niazi – to meet Imran Khan, but denied Aleema Khan’s request. The family refused to proceed without Aleema, stating, “We will not meet him without her.”
A large contingent of Rawalpindi police, including female officers and Elite Force personnel, reached the scene. Jail sources later confirmed that permission had been granted for Uzma Khan, Noreen Khan, and Qasim Niazi to meet Imran Khan.
PTI’s Aliya Hamza was also stopped at Gorakhpur. In a related move, Punjab Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar and Deputy Opposition Leader Moin Qureshi were also barred from proceeding to the jail.
PTI leaders including Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Malik Amir Dogar, Zartaj Gul, and Mian Azhar also reached the area as tensions escalated. Police detained four PTI workers at the site, who later fled after hurling stones at law enforcement. They were briefly held but released upon assurance that they would disperse.
Omar Ayub assured police that the protestors would vacate the area peacefully.
Despite efforts to manage the situation, multiple female PTI members and Imran Khan’s sisters were taken into custody near the Gorakhpur checkpoint. Those detained included PTI MNA Shafqat Awan and Sahibzada Hamid Raza.
Police transported the detained women and leaders to Shahpur Stop, where they were temporarily held in a police van at a nearby petrol station.
The incident reflects growing tensions between PTI supporters and authorities as restrictions on meeting the imprisoned party founder continue.
