Imran Khan kept in solitary confinement again, cut off from family for 9 days as police crack down on PTI protest

(FILES) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party supporters carry a poster of their leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, during a protest against the 27th constitutional amendment, in Karachi on November 21, 2025. (Photo by Rizwan TABASSUM / AFP)

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has once again been pushed into solitary confinement at Adiala Jail, with top jail officials confirming to CNN-News18 that he has not been allowed to meet either his lawyers or his family for the past nine days. The strict restrictions have raised fresh concerns about political repression and the growing power of Pakistan’s military establishment.

According to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the isolation order came shortly after Khan allegedly referred to Army Chief General Asim Munir as “mentally ill” in a social media post, and after a media statement by his sister Dr Uzma Khan following her previous jail visit. PTI says all meetings with Khan have been blocked since then, cutting him off from any legal consultation or family access.

On Tuesday night, Khan’s sisters Aleema Khan, Noreen Khan and Uzma Khan joined PTI workers outside Adiala Jail in a peaceful protest, demanding they be allowed to meet him. As the crowd raised slogans against the government and military leadership, the demonstration remained non-violent.

However, late in the night, Punjab Police cracked down on the gathering. Water cannons were used on the protesters despite the freezing December weather, and police also carried out a lathi-charge to disperse them. Eyewitnesses told reporters that Khan’s sisters were left shivering after being hit with water jets as officers moved in to clear the area.

Police also stormed a support camp set up by PTI near the prison walls and allegedly assaulted party workers while dismantling the site. There has been no comment from Punjab Police on the use of force or the restrictions on family access.

Earlier, Aleema Khan directly blamed General Asim Munir for her brother’s treatment inside the jail. She accused the army chief of being personally responsible for the “torture” and long periods of isolation, saying he was “stubborn” and “making life hell” for Imran Khan.

PTI continues to insist that no one from Khan’s family or party has been allowed to see him, calling the restrictions unconstitutional and politically motivated. The government has offered no clarification, and officials have remained silent amid growing criticism.

CNN-News18 recently reported that Pakistan’s political and security establishment is actively discussing whether to charge Imran Khan with treason and even ban the PTI. According to sources, the Shehbaz Sharif government, working in coordination with the military leadership, believes Khan has crossed several red lines through alleged breaches of national security and by destabilising Pakistan’s diplomatic relations.

The isolation of Pakistan’s most popular political leader and the police assault on peaceful protesters highlight a troubling pattern: as the military tightens its grip, civilian politics continues to shrink. For now, Imran Khan remains cut off from the outside world while Pakistan’s rulers remain silent about why a former elected prime minister is being held in conditions usually reserved for dangerous criminals.