Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and family members of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday staged a sit-in protest near the Gorakhpur Factory checkpoint outside Adiala Jail, alleging that
Khan has been subjected to prolonged and illegal solitary confinement in violation of constitutional and international human rights norms.
Addressing the media at the protest site, Imran Khan’s sister Alima Khan accused jail authorities of deliberately isolating the former PM to cut him off from the public and suppress his political message. She said Khan has been “continuously kept in solitary confinement,” calling the treatment unconstitutional and a “blatant violation of human rights.”
“Even five days of solitary confinement is considered a fundamental human rights violation. Imran Khan has been kept in this condition for over two months,” Alima Khan said, citing legal and international standards. She claimed that family access has been severely restricted, adding that her sister was allowed to meet Khan only briefly and for no more than 20 minutes at a time.
According to Alima Khan, the alleged restrictions are being imposed out of fear that Imran Khan’s influence remains strong despite his incarceration. “They think that by locking him up, people will forget him. We will neither forget him nor allow him to be forgotten,” she said, asserting that the isolation is intended solely to prevent Khan’s message from reaching the outside world.
PTI leaders present at the sit-in said they would continue their protest until authorities allow a meeting with Imran Khan, in line with court directives and jail rules. The party alleged that despite repeated requests, no meetings were permitted for Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, their families, or legal counsel.
Jail officials, however, told PTI representatives that the scheduled meeting time had ended, following which no further access could be granted. The sources maintained that jail procedures were being followed, though PTI leaders disputed this claim.
Protesters at the site said they had been informed that water cannons and tankers had been deployed to disperse them. Responding to this, Alima Khan said the demonstrators were prepared for any action. “Throw water on us, knock us down — what will happen? We came prepared with warm clothes and raincoats,” she said. “They can throw water, fire shells, or do whatever they want. We are here.”
PTI leaders vowed to continue the sit-in peacefully, insisting they were not violating any law. “Those keeping Imran Khan in solitary confinement are the ones breaking national and international laws,” party leaders said, reiterating their resolve to stand by the former prime minister “at any cost.”
