(Image source from: Loksatta.com)
Amid speculation about the alleged death of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan while imprisoned, his three sisters have reported that they faced "severe violence" from police after they requested to see their brother. The sisters, Noreen Khan, Aleema Khan, and Uzma Khan, stated that police attacked them and supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) when they assembled outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi this week, insisting that they be allowed to meet Khan. He has been in Adiala Jail since 2023. The sisters mentioned that they have not been permitted to see him for over three weeks. According to PTI, the sisters and supporters were gathered outside the jail when the police "descended upon them" and "violently attacked" them for simply wanting to meet Imran Khan. The party has also requested an unbiased investigation into the "violent" actions of the police against Khan's sisters and supporters near the Adiala Jail.
In a message to Punjab police chief Usman Anwar, Khan's sisters described the aggression as "violent, coordinated, and carried out by police without any reason." Noreen Niazi stated, "We held a peaceful protest out of concern for his health. We did not block roads or disrupt public activities, nor did we break any laws. Yet, suddenly, the area’s streetlights were turned off, plunging us into darkness. Then, we were viciously attacked by Punjab police officers." She expressed, "At 71 years old, I was grabbed by my hair, thrown forcefully to the ground, and dragged across the street, leaving noticeable injuries." She added that other women at the location were also slapped and pulled. "The behavior of the police exemplifies a troubling and ongoing pattern of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators over the past three years, showing a disturbing lack of accountability."
She asserted, "The police actions were illegal, immoral, and completely against the core responsibilities of law enforcement in a democratic nation." Khan's sisters urged the Inspector General of Punjab to quickly begin action against all officers involved in this violent incident. Khan, who leads PTI, has been incarcerated since August 2023 on multiple charges. Reports indicate that there has been an unofficial ban on visits for over a month, while false claims about his death circulate online. PTI claims Khan is kept in total isolation and solitary confinement. A lawyer connected to his legal team informed the press that even books, essential items, and access to his lawyers are being restricted. Khalid Yousaf Chaudry remarked, “Here, the law is disregarded, where only the ruling authority holds rights. No one else has any rights.”
Even the Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, was not permitted to see Khan. Afridi attempted to visit him in jail seven times in a row but was refused entry by jail officials, whom Khan says are under the control of a military officer.
