Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan is reportedly in good health, his sister Uzma Khan confirmed on Tuesday after visiting him at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, ending weeks of speculation over the former prime minister’s condition.
Speaking to journalists outside the jail, Uzma said she would provide more detailed updates after consulting with her sisters, Aleema Khan and Noreen Khan. The meeting followed authorities granting her permission after PTI had repeatedly raised concerns about Imran Khan’s health and restricted family access despite existing court orders.
The party had previously threatened to stage protests outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and march towards Adiala Jail to demand that both the family and PTI leadership be allowed to meet the ex-premier. Government officials argued that the restrictions were necessary under jail rules to maintain security for Khan and other inmates and claimed that some meetings involved discussions of political matters.
Meanwhile, security around the jail remained extremely tight under a special plan, with authorities implementing a full Adiala Jail security alert. Five additional checkpoints were set up along Adiala Jail Road, while more than 700 personnel—including women officers and anti-riot units—were deployed. Vehicles passing through the area underwent strict checking, and law-enforcement agencies coordinated closely to prevent any unrest.
Aleema alleged that her brother had been kept in solitary confinement for a month and accused authorities of using harsh tactics, including leaving “dirty water on the road” to restrict movement. She also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, calling the restrictions “undemocratic” and accusing the government of repeatedly lying.
The situation escalated after PTI announced protests outside the Islamabad High Court and Adiala Jail. The call came following the repeated denial of a meeting between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Imran Khan—an issue that led Afridi to stage a 16-hour sit-in on November 27.
Authorities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi responded by enforcing Section 144, banning rallies and public gatherings from December 1 to 3. Officials warned that any violation would result in immediate action, emphasising that security forces were on high alert.
Adding to the tension, Imran Khan’s sons raised alarm over the lack of direct contact with their father for more than three weeks. Kasim Khan told Reuters that despite a court order for weekly meetings, no verifiable information about his father’s condition had been shared, sparking fears that authorities might be concealing “something irreversible.”
