Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan is “completely sound and safe,” his sister Uzma Khan said on Tuesday after meeting him at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, easing speculation regarding the former prime minister’s health and condition.
She said the PTI founder was fine, his health was fine, but he was constantly kept in solitary confinement and was being mentally tortured.
Speaking to journalists after the visit, Uzma said she would share further updates after consulting with her sisters, Aleema Khan and Noreen Khan.
The meeting took place after weeks of requests and public pressure from PTI leadership, who had voiced concerns over being repeatedly denied access to the incarcerated leader.
Imran Khan has been held at Adiala jail since August 2023 following his removal from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022. During recent weeks, both the party and family members alleged that jail authorities had ignored court orders regarding visitation rights.
Tensions intensified late last month after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was denied entry to meet Khan for the eighth time, despite a 16-hour sit-in. PTI subsequently warned of protests outside the Islamabad High Court, followed by a march to Adiala, if meetings continued to be blocked.
Ahead of the planned protest, the administrations of Islamabad and Rawalpindi imposed Section 144 — banning public gatherings — and placed the twin cities on alert. Officials said meeting restrictions were enforced under jail security rules and claimed that political discussions were taking place during previous visits.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema told reporters earlier that the former prime minister had been kept in solitary confinement for a month. She criticized what she described as heavy-handed policing and accused authorities of fearing even a family-only visit.
Khan’s sons also recently expressed concern about the prolonged lack of communication, suggesting authorities might be hiding “something irreversible” regarding his health or location.
Security around Adiala Jail has been intensified, with over 700 officers deployed, additional checkpoints installed, and stringent vehicle inspections underway. Authorities reaffirmed that Section 144 remains in force, warning that any unlawful gathering would be met with immediate action.
Despite the political friction and allegations of concealment, Uzma’s confirmation that Khan is in good physical condition has brought temporary relief to supporters, even as the party continues to demand regular, unobstructed family access.