Again, opposition leaders barred from meeting Imran Khan in Pakistan

Senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the country’s main opposition party, were once again barred from meeting their leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan at Adiala Jail on Thursday, despite court orders permitting the visit.

The opposition leader, Omar Ayub Khan, and Advocate Niaz Ullah Niazi were stopped at gate No. 5 of Adiala jail. Meanwhile, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Allama Raja Nasir, and Ahmed Khan Bhichar, opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly, were stopped at a checkpoint nearly a mile before the jail entrance.

Imran Khan’s sisters, despite having court orders from an anti-terrorism court permitting their visit, did not go to see their brother on Thursday. The sisters have not met Khan since March 20.

Omar Ayub Khan wrote a letter to the jail superintendent, stating that the list of nominated visitors for April 10 had already been submitted by Barrister Salman Akram Raja. The list was in line with a ruling by a larger bench of the Islamabad High Court.

He accused jail authorities, intelligence agencies, and other personnel stationed at the facility of contempt of court. According to Ayub, all the visitors reached the jail at 12:30 p.m. and waited until 4:00 p.m., which he said are the official visiting hours at Adiala jail.

Speaking to media outside the jail, Ayub said, “We were told by jail authorities that let all the leaders gather first, then they will be allowed to meet Imran Khan. Police officers think they are bigger than the state.”

He also leveled strong allegations against the Inspector General of Punjab Police, claiming, “The IG Punjab is the most corrupt officer in the province. The police are acting on illegal orders from senior officials.”

Allama Raja Nasir, speaking to the media, said, “There is no law or Constitution in Pakistan right now. The country is being run like a jungle.”

He added that court orders are being ignored and declared, “There is no sanctity of courts left in the country, and if I am arrested, I won’t appear in any court.”

Punjab Assembly opposition leader Ahmed Khan Bhichar expressed frustration, saying, “Members of parliament are not allowed to meet their leader in jail. Courts of this country should be shut down since there is no law and democracy in Pakistan.”

Earlier this week, Khan’s sisters were also denied a meeting with him despite scheduled visits sanctioned by the Islamabad High Court.

In response, they and other PTI members protested outside the jail. Police detained Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, and Naureen Khan, along with Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Seemabia Tahir. All were later released by the police.