Pakistan bars Khan’s sister, other 'violators' from meeting jailed ex-PM

Pakistan’s government on Thursday said it would bar former prime minister Imran Khan’s sister, Uzma Khanum and any others who violate rules from future meetings with the jailed ex-premier.

Information Minister Ataullah Tarar told a press conference in Islamabad that Uzma Khanum had breached prison regulations during a recent visit to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where Khan is serving a sentence in a 190-million-pound corruption case.

“Imran Khan is a privileged prisoner, receiving amenities unmatched by any previous inmates in Pakistan,” Ataullah Tarar said, adding that restrictions were imposed after Khanum allegedly conducted a political discussion during her visit. “No one will be allowed to commit violations.”

The minister also dismissed claims by Khan against the army chief as “a result of frustration and anger” and warned that any law-and-order disruptions outside the jail would be dealt with firmly.

“Let me make it very clear that any person violating rules will face action. No drama will be allowed outside Adiala as we are seeing every day,” he said, noting some Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) accounts are reportedly operated from India, Afghanistan, and other countries.

At the same briefing, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar emphasized that all meetings follow strict jail manual rules, which have been in place for decades. “The manual permits one meeting a week and also allows writing letters,” he said. “Discussion in jail should not be political in nature, and letters should be personal, with no mention of politics or jail matters. Meetings should never be made public.”

He further highlighted rules empowering prison officials to terminate meetings if discussions are “prejudicial in nature” or could threaten public peace, emphasizing that these regulations apply to all inmates equally.

The visit by Uzma Khanum earlier this week marked a rare meeting with her brother, nearly a month after she last saw him. She had told reporters that Khan’s health was “perfectly fine” but that he expressed anger over restricted contact, saying he was being subjected to “mental torture.”