Pakistan police on Wednesday registered a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act against the sisters of former prime minister Imran Khan, senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf
(PTI), and dozens of party supporters following a protest outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. The case stems from a sit-in staged a day earlier after authorities blocked family members and lawyers from meeting the jailed PTI chief, police officials said. The first information report (FIR), lodged at Saddar Beroni police station, names Imran Khan’s sisters Aleema Khan and Noreen Niazi, along with more than 50 others. Among the accused are PTI figures Salman Akram Raja, Naeem Panjotha, Qasim Khan, Aliya Hamza and Raja Nasir Abbas. Police said at least 14 individuals were detained shortly after the FIR was registered, while raids are continuing to arrest the remaining suspects.
Protest Outside High-Security Jail Triggers Legal Action
According to the police complaint, PTI workers gathered outside Adiala Jail on Tuesday after prison authorities barred relatives and legal counsel from meeting Imran Khan. The protest escalated into a blockade of the jail’s access points, with police alleging that demonstrators defied Section 144, which prohibits public assemblies, and clashed with law-enforcement personnel deployed to secure the area.
Officials said the FIR includes charges under the Pakistan Penal Code’s Section 120B, relating to criminal conspiracy, as well as provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The inclusion of terrorism-related charges means the accused could be tried before special anti-terrorism courts, which operate under expedited procedures and allow for stricter penalties.
Pakistan's Interior Ministry has defended the police action, citing the sensitive security status of Adiala Jail, which houses high-profile inmates and is located near military installations. Authorities said restrictions on meetings were imposed in line with security protocols and were not politically motivated.
PTI Denounces Charges, Cites Pattern of Crackdown
PTI leaders strongly criticised the filing of terrorism charges, describing them as an attempt to suppress political dissent ahead of elections the party claims will again be manipulated. In a statement, PTI said the use of the Anti-Terrorism Act against peaceful protesters reflected what it called an increasingly “authoritarian” approach by the state since Imran Khan’s removal from office in April 2022 through a no-confidence vote.
Also Read: Who Was Rehman Dakait? Pakistan’s Lyari Gangster Who Shaped Akshaye Khanna’s ‘Dhurandhar’ Role
Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 and faces more than 200 cases, including those linked to alleged corruption, the handling of state gifts, a diplomatic cipher controversy, and the violent unrest of May 9, 2023. PTI maintains that the cases are politically driven and aimed at sidelining its leadership. The party said Khan’s last family meeting took place on December 2, during a visit by his wife, Uzma Khan.
Also Read: What Is Pakistan’s Op Azm-e-Istehkam, And Why Could It Trigger New Wave of Suicide Bombings?
PTI representatives also framed the inclusion of Khan’s sisters in the FIR as an expansion of pressure on the former prime minister’s family. Aleema Khan and Noreen Niazi have largely stayed out of frontline politics but have recently become more visible in public statements demanding access to their brother.
Adiala Jail has frequently been a flashpoint since Imran Khan’s incarceration, with repeated confrontations over visitation rights and security restrictions. The location’s proximity to sensitive military areas has often prompted heightened security measures, contributing to tensions during protests.
