Rawalpindi, April 15, 2025 — For the second time this month, the sisters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan were denied access to meet him at Adiala Jail, sparking a defiant protest led by Aleema Khan. On a designated visiting day, family members of Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and a team of lawyers accompanied the sisters to the Rawalpindi facility, only to face obstruction at the Gorakhpur checkpoint.
Frustrated by the repeated denial, Aleema Khan stepped out of her vehicle and sat on the roadside, vowing not to leave until permitted to see her brother. Speaking to the press, she recounted a previous incident where police detained the sisters and abandoned them in a remote area. “They tricked us last time, but today we’re not moving,” Aleema declared, dismissing claims by jail authorities that Khan refused to meet his family. “He’s been demanding to see us—does anyone believe he’d say no?” she said, citing a family source.
Aleema accused the administration of deliberate tactics to block their access, insisting that all three sisters be allowed entry together. “No one will be left behind. Either we all go in, or we stay right here,” she told reporters. Lawyers, including Barrister Ali Zafar and Barrister Gohar, were also present but reportedly instructed not to press for the family’s visitation rights.
The incident has intensified concerns among PTI supporters about restrictions on Khan’s contact with his family. The former prime minister has been imprisoned since his government’s removal in a 2022 no-confidence vote, facing multiple legal battles. Tuesday’s standoff echoes an earlier clash at the same checkpoint, where the sisters were briefly detained, amplifying calls for transparency regarding Khan’s treatment in custody.
