Thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) supporters protested near Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi late night on Tuesday. The protests turned violent after rumours spread that former Prime Minister Imran Khan had died in custody. Some reports also suggested that Khan had been placed in solitary confinement.

Khan’s sisters—Noreen Khan (Niazi), Aleema Khan, and Uzma Khan—joined party members and supporters at Factory Naka, close to the Central Jail. The gathering followed another denial of the sisters’ request to meet Khan.

The protests began as a sit-in but escalated before stopping at the request of Allama Raja Nasir, leader of the Islamist political organisation Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM).

Family Accuses Authorities of Blocking Visitation

Khan’s sister Aleema expressed frustration over the lack of communication with jail authorities. She told Dawn, “Who knows, maybe Imran has been shifted. Why are they not letting us meet him?”

The sisters are upset at being repeatedly denied the court-stipulated weekly meetings with Khan.

This Tuesday protest followed a similar sit-in last week. During that protest, Khan’s sisters and PTI members camped outside the jail after again being blocked from seeing him.

In a letter to Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar, the sisters accused police of “brutal and orchestrated” violence against them and PTI workers “without provocation”.

Khan’s sister Noreen Niazi said, as reported by media, “We peacefully protested over concerns for his health. Yet, without warning or provocation, the streetlights in the area were abruptly switched off, deliberately casting the scene into darkness. What followed was a brutal and orchestrated assault by Punjab police personnel.”

Family Denied Meetings for Over a Year

It has been over a year since Imran Khan’s family was allowed to meet him in jail. The Islamabad High Court issued orders on 24 March and again on 24 October to ensure Khan’s visitation rights twice a week. Despite the court orders, jail authorities have refused to allow any meetings, frustrating his family and supporters.