Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Aleema Khan on Tuesday demanded the restoration of meetings and medical access for incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, saying the party’s government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had linked financial cooperation with the federal government to the fulfilment of several conditions.
Speaking to reporters at the Factory Check Post outside Adiala Jail, Aleema Khan said the KP government had set a condition that it would not provide Rs175 billion to the federal government unless the centre released Rs300 billion allegedly owed to the province.
She said the second condition was that Imran Khan’s medical treatment should be conducted in the presence of his family members and personal doctors. She also demanded an end to his alleged solitary confinement and the restoration of meetings in accordance with court orders.
Aleema Khan said the PTI founder should be provided access to books and allowed to communicate with his children. She added that these assurances should be provided in writing and backed by a guarantor.
She warned that if the demands were not met despite pressure from the KP government, PTI supporters would unite again to secure the former prime minister’s release.
Referring to the events surrounding Imran Khan’s removal from office and subsequent arrest, Aleema Khan alleged that his government was toppled on the orders of a U.S. official and claimed thousands of people were arrested following the May 9 unrest.
She said that after Imran Khan’s arrest, he was offered the option of leaving Pakistan but chose to remain in the country and face legal proceedings. She alleged that more than 200 cases were registered against him and described the cases as politically motivated.
Aleema Khan also criticised judicial proceedings against the PTI founder, alleging that judges who handed down convictions against him faced no consequences after their decisions were overturned.
She claimed that Imran Khan had been held in complete solitary confinement for the past eight months and accused authorities of systematically restricting access to him.
Commenting on attempts to meet the former prime minister, Aleema Khan said PTI leaders had received a message from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi advising them to submit an application to the jail superintendent.
However, she maintained that the restrictions were being imposed by the interior ministry and other authorities rather than jail officials, arguing that a full bench court order already allowed 18 individuals to meet the PTI founder.
She further alleged that meetings involving the family of Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, had also been stopped.
“We only demand that the founder receive proper treatment,” Aleema Khan said, adding that PTI wanted access to Imran Khan to ease concerns that meetings could eventually be halted altogether.
“We absolutely do not accept this,” she said.
