Former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan’s sisters staged a sit-in near Adiala Jail on Tuesday after they were once again denied a meeting with him, while later announcing that party workers would no longer be called to future protests outside the prison.
According to PTI leaders, Tuesday was a scheduled day for meetings with jailed Imran Khan; however, when the meeting did not take place, his sisters, including Aleema Khan, held a protest at the Factory Checkpost near Adiala Jail.
Addressing supporters, Aleema Khan announced a change in the party’s protest strategy, saying only Imran Khan’s three sisters would visit Adiala Jail in the future, while party workers would no longer be asked to gather there.
“We have presented our future course of action today. From now on, only the three sisters will come to Adiala Jail. Party leaders whose names are approved for meetings may come, but workers will not be called,” she said, thanking supporters who had participated in previous protests.
Aleema Khan said the PTI founder had already conveyed his message regarding a street movement, adding that the party leadership would lead protests in their respective districts to increase pressure on the government.
She maintained that the movement was aimed at restoring constitutional and legal rights rather than securing family meetings alone.
Meanwhile, jail sources said former first lady Bushra Bibi was allowed to meet her family at Adiala Jail.
Her sister-in-law, Mehr-un-Nisa Maneka, and daughter, Mubashra Sheikh, met her in the jail’s conference room for around 40 minutes, during which they discussed her health and well-being.
Attendance at the protest remained lower than expected despite calls by PTI leaders.
During the sit-in, clashes broke out between rival groups of PTI workers after one group attempted to approach Aleema Khan and was stopped by another.
The confrontation turned violent, with workers exchanging punches and tearing each other’s clothes.
Women present at the protest intervened to separate the groups, but fresh scuffles erupted shortly afterwards, during which one worker’s glasses were broken.
Police sources later said two PTI workers were taken into custody from the protest site.
