Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khanum held a media talk at Marble Factory Checkpoint near Adiala Jail on Tuesday, raising serious concerns over the conditions in which Khan was being kept in jail.
Addressing the media along with other members of her family, Aleema said although Tuesdays are designated for family and lawyers’ meetings, Imran Khan was not being allowed regular access. She said that over the past year, only 24 meetings have taken place. According to her, Khan has been kept in solitary confinement, which she described as a form of mental torture.
She stated that the last scheduled meeting was held on December 2, while lawyer Salman Safdar managed to meet Khan on December 20 for only eight minutes after what she termed as forced intervention. Aleema said that efforts were being made to portray the PTI founder as mentally unstable.
“Khan is sitting in jail for the sake of his nation,” she said, adding that her family considers itself fortunate to have a person who has set a high standard of sacrifice for Pakistan. She maintained that Khan has faced all cases against him and authorities are unable to find judges willing to convict him in what she described as false cases.
Aleema said that Khan’s appeals have not been heard for over a year. She said that despite having opportunities to flee the country, he chose to face the cases and emerged as a political leader through legal resistance.
Criticizing the judicial process, she named Judge Dogar, claiming that legal obstacles were being created in cases including the £190 million reference and Tosha Khana-II case. She said that lawyers are not even allowed to complete legal formalities from jail and asserted that whenever cases are properly heard, Khan and Bushra Bibi would be acquitted within minutes.
She called on judges to act independently, stating that if they cannot withstand pressure or deliver justice, they should vacate their positions to make way for courageous judges who can ensure justice for Pakistanis.
During the media talk, Aleema announced that the “Movement for the Protection of the Constitution” has called for a nationwide shutdown on February 8. She urged citizens to close transport, shops, and businesses for one day in protest, warning against what she described as a future of slavery if resistance is not shown.
Referring to the same date, she said that while a lockdown call has been issued, authorities announced Basant celebrations instead. She claimed restrictions were being imposed on kite flying and colors, but encouraged supporters to write “Prisoner No. 804” on kites and fly them as a symbolic protest.
“All our elected representatives are with us and have stood by us on Adiala Road,” she said, adding that on February 8 they would inform police in advance about the planned shutdown. “We will close the entire Pakistan. This is just the beginning; after this, the protest will also be seen on the streets,” she warned.