Former Pakistan Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, who is currently lodged in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, continues to face tightening restrictions from the government. Concerns over his prison conditions have been circulating for months, coupled with rumours on social media questioning his well-being. Earlier this week, the authorities briefly allowed his sister, Uzma Khanum, to meet him and dismiss the speculation, but the government has now imposed strict limits on further visits.
According to a report by Arab News, Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar announced on Thursday that the government has barred Uzma Khanum from visiting Imran Khan again. The decision reportedly stems from her alleged violation of prison rules by engaging in political discussions during her meetings with the former premier—an act strictly prohibited under jail regulations.
Addressing a joint press conference with Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar in Islamabad, the Information Minister warned that the government would respond firmly to any attempts that may provoke unrest around Adiala Jail. He emphasized that no individual—regardless of their identity—will be allowed to disrupt public order through activities outside the prison.
Both Uzma Khanum and Aleema Khanum had been granted permission to meet Imran Khan earlier this week. Their meeting on Tuesday reportedly lasted around 20 minutes, during which Uzma reassured the public that her brother was “perfectly fine,” countering widespread rumours about his death. Nonetheless, she also expressed concern about the “severe mental torture” he was allegedly enduring in confinement, claiming he appeared weak, isolated and emotionally disturbed.
However, the government maintains that the restrictions are based strictly on rule violations. Tarar stated that conversations during Uzma’s previous visit revolved around political matters and instigating unrest—subjects explicitly banned inside the jail. “As per prison rules, political discussions are not allowed. Reports confirm that such conversations took place. Therefore, Uzma Khanum’s meetings have been banned from today,” he said.
The minister added that all meetings between Imran Khan and his family members occur under supervision, and any deviation from regulations leads to immediate disciplinary action. “You were given a chance, and the rules were violated. Under no circumstances can further meetings be allowed,” he explained.
In response, Khan’s close aide Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari criticized the government’s move, describing it as retaliation against peaceful dissent. In a message shared with the media, Bukhari remarked that such actions reflect the government’s intolerance toward basic constitutional rights.
Imran Khan, now 72, has been in prison since August 2023 following multiple convictions that he claims are politically motivated after his ouster in the 2022 no-confidence vote. His legal setbacks include sentences in the Toshakhana case for allegedly selling state gifts, a 10-year sentence in the cipher case, and a 14-year verdict in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, as reported by Dawn.
With government restrictions tightening and political tensions rising, the PTI founder’s legal and personal struggles appear far from over.