Party members, lawyers denied meeting with Pakistan's former PM Imran Khan

Jail authorities at Pakistan’s Adiala Prison barred Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) lawyers, including Barrister Salman Akram Raja, Advocate Niaz Ullah Niazi, and Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, from meeting incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan.

Officials cited violations of an assurance given to the Islamabad High Court by PTI that members would not hold media talks outside the jail.

Family members and lawyers of Imran Khan have scheduled meetings every Tuesday, while party leadership and close associates meet him on Thursdays. However, Khan’s family was not allowed to meet him last Tuesday and was denied access again this week.

Despite the restrictions on some visitors, PTI leaders Azam Swati, Nadia Khattak, Mubashir Awan, Advocate Tabish, and Advocate Ansar Kiyani were allowed to meet Khan.

Tensions at the jail

Barrister Raja engaged in a heated exchange with jail staff, questioning why he was being prevented from meeting Khan.

"I am responsible for providing the list of visitors, yet I am not allowed to meet him today," Raja argued. "The court has ordered that only those on our provided list should be allowed. If meetings are being arranged outside the list, then no one should be allowed to meet him." Raja also stopped Advocate Ansar Kiyani and Advocate Tabish from entering the jail.

Jail staff responded that only those who arrived earliest from the approved list were permitted to meet Khan.

PTI spokesperson and lawyer Advocate Niazi announced plans to file a contempt of court petition against the jail authorities, alleging repeated violations of court orders.

Harsh conditions

After meeting Khan, Advocate Awan told reporters that the former prime minister has been denied books, phone access to his children for the past seven months, and the ability to hold political meetings.

Raja echoed these concerns, stating this marked the third time court orders were violated. He vowed to take the matter to the Islamabad High Court.

Imran Khan’s directives

Following his visit, Swati relayed Khan’s latest directives, stating that Khan demanded the Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly resign immediately after the findings from the KP Anti-Corruption Committee.

Swati added that Khan called for the expulsion of PTI’s Mansehra president and general secretary from the party.

Swati also briefed Khan on political matters in Punjab, stating that PTI leader Alia Hamza was facing internal roadblocks. He emphasized that securing Khan’s release remains a top priority.

"I informed Imran Khan that Ali Amin Gandapur has not remained silent on corruption issues," Swati told reporters. "I came to meet Imran Khan only with Ali Amin Gandapur’s permission."

Meanwhile, Raja rejected reports of internal conflicts in PTI, insisting that while minor disputes occur in any major political party, the organization remains united.

"There is no fight in the party," he said. "Small matters happen in a large political organization."