RAWALPINDI: Sohail Afridi on Tuesday joined a sit-in alongside the sisters of Imran Khan near Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi amid heightened security measures and the enforcement of Section 144 across the twin cities.
Khan completed 1,000 days in custody earlier this week after being jailed in August 2023. Jail authorities have repeatedly denied permission for his family members and leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to meet him despite several requests.
The former ruling party has expressed concerns over the health of Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi after both recently underwent eye procedures. PTI has long demanded their immediate transfer to a hospital for proper medical treatment and diagnostic tests under the supervision of doctors and family members.
The sit-in coincided with the scheduled meeting day for the jailed PTI founder at Adiala Jail, where authorities had already imposed restrictions by banning all forms of public gatherings in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
CM Afridi arrived at the Factory Check Post on Adiala Road with official protocol, where Khan’s sisters, including Aleema Khan, had staged the protest sit-in.
Several PTI leaders, including Salman Akram Raja, Shahid Khattak, Naeem Haider Panjutha and Niazullah Niazi, along with party workers, were also present at the protest.
Meanwhile, police completely sealed Adiala Road by placing barriers along the route, while heavy contingents were deployed at multiple points surrounding the jail and adjoining areas to maintain security.
In a post on X, Aleema Khan said that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi remained “illegally imprisoned” and were being subjected to “systematic psychological and physical torture through unlawful isolation”.
She said the party’s primary demand was the immediate transfer of Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for comprehensive medical examinations and proper treatment of his eye condition.
Aleema further said that CM Afridi, along with the entire KP Assembly and PTI lawmakers from the National Assembly and Senate, would participate in the sit-in in solidarity with the former premier. She also urged PTI supporters not to visit Adiala Jail due to the risk of arrests.
A day earlier, the Rawalpindi administration imposed Section 144 across the district for 15 days through an official notification, declaring Adiala Jail and nearby areas as a red zone.
According to the notification, the restrictions came into force from midnight on May 12, banning all forms of public assembly in the area.
Separately, the Islamabad administration reiterated that Section 144 remained enforced in the federal capital and warned that no public gatherings would be allowed under the restrictions.
The district administration stated that any violation of the restrictions would be treated as a breach of law and could result in strict legal action against those involved. Authorities also urged citizens to avoid participating in unlawful activities and to fully comply with the restrictions imposed under Section 144.
Khan, 73, has remained in prison since August 2023 following convictions that he and his party describe as politically motivated.
Since his removal from office in April 2022 through a no-confidence vote, he has faced multiple legal cases, including allegations related to state gifts and an unlawful marriage case.
While some convictions have been suspended or overturned, several appeals remain pending before higher courts. Khan continues to deny all allegations of wrongdoing.