Authorities at Rawalpindi Adiala Jail have allowed Imran Khan’s sister, Uzma Khanum, to visit the former prime minister of Pakistan amid rumors of his death and the family demanding proof of his health, according to a report by The Dawn.
Uzma Khanum was taken to the jail to meet Khan, while dozens of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters who had come with her waited outside the facility.
Uzma’s meeting took place at a time when the PTI staged protests outside the Islamabad High Court and Adiala Jail, pointing out restrictions on Imran Khan’s visitation rights. The party claimed that his family members and senior leaders could not visit him.
No one has been allowed to meet the PTI founder or his wife since October 27, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi told the news portal.
Imran Khan’s family and PTI leaders have been trying to meet him for over three weeks, but their requests have reportedly been ignored. This led to growing speculation that the former cricketer and politician may have died.
However, Adiala Jail denied the rumours, saying, “He is fully healthy and receiving complete medical care,” Geo News reported.
Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 and faces multiple charges, including corruption and terrorism, after being removed from power in April 2022 through an opposition motion of no confidence.
Section 144 saved
Before the PTI protests, Section 144 of the Penal Code was invoked in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. This legal provision allows district authorities to ban gatherings of four or more people in a certain area for a limited period of time.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said that Section 144 will be enforced in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
“Whether they come to Islamabad High Court (IHC) or Adiala Jail, action under Section 144 would be done without any discrimination,” the report quoted Chaudhry as saying. He specifically asked the PTI MPs to “follow the law”.
He further claimed that Section 144 was imposed in these cities “on the basis of intelligence reports”.
Regarding this issue with terrorism, Dawn quoted him as saying, “Terrorists look for examples (to use) to spread fear and headlines; be it (a) political gatherings, courts or important places or offices.”
