High drama outside Adiala Jail as police stop Imran Khan’s sisters, Aleema Khan leads PTI foot march

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party supporters protest to demand release of their jailed leader and Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in Peshawar on December 12, 2025. (Photo by Abdul MAJEED / AFP)

Tensions once again spilled onto the streets outside Rawalpindi’s high security Adiala Jail on Tuesday, underscoring the deepening political fault lines in Pakistan and renewed accusations that the state is using coercive tactics to isolate former prime minister Imran Khan.

The flashpoint came when police stopped the vehicle carrying Khan’s sisters near the jail, preventing them from proceeding further. In response, Aleema Khan stepped out of the car and began walking towards the prison on foot, accompanied by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers who raised slogans against the authorities.

PTI supporters accused the government and security establishment of deliberately obstructing family meetings and turning routine prison visits into confrontations for political leverage. Party workers said the decision to march on foot was a symbolic protest against what they described as systematic curbs on access to the jailed PTI founder.

Law enforcement officials defended their actions by citing security protocols and restrictions under Section 144, which prohibits public gatherings in Rawalpindi. They claimed the vehicle was stopped due to these orders, while additional police contingents were rushed to the area to prevent the situation from escalating into a larger demonstration.

PTI leaders rejected the explanation, alleging that security restrictions were being selectively enforced to keep Imran Khan isolated. They argued that even lawful family visits were being blocked to discourage political mobilisation and intimidate those associated with the former prime minister.

Imran Khan, now 73, has been lodged in Adiala Jail since August 2023 in connection with multiple cases. His sisters Aleema Khan, Noreen Khan and Uzma Khan have repeatedly complained that they are being denied access despite court orders permitting family meetings.

The latest standoff follows a similar incident earlier this month. On December 9, Khan’s sisters staged a sit in outside the jail after being stopped at a checkpoint and barred from entering the premises. Police at the time said the sisters arrived after visiting hours had ended. PTI leaders countered that the timing was being used as a pretext to humiliate the family and suppress dissent.

Last week, Uzma Khan was briefly allowed to meet her brother. Speaking to reporters afterwards, she said Imran Khan held the army leadership responsible for his situation. The comments triggered a sharp reaction from the military, with the army spokesperson launching a scathing rebuttal at a subsequent press conference, without naming Khan directly.

Concerns over Imran Khan’s health have further heightened tensions. On December 2, authorities allowed Uzma Khan to meet him after rumours about his condition intensified and family members demanded proof that he was alive. PTI supporters gathered outside Adiala Jail and the Islamabad High Court that day, alleging prolonged and deliberate restrictions on visitation.

Following the meeting, Uzma Khan told reporters that her brother’s health was stable but alleged that he was being subjected to “mental torture." She added that more details would be shared after consultations with her sisters.