RAWALPINDI: Like the previous week, sisters of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan, along with senior party leaders and workers, staged a sit-in outside Adiala Jail on Tuesday after they were denied a meeting with Khan despite Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders. Tuesday had been designated as the visitation day for Khan’s family and legal team. However, Khan sisters — Aleema Khan, Dr Uzma Khan, Noreen Khan, party leaders Salman AKram Raja, and workers staged a sit-in at Factory Naka near Adiala jail after they were stopped from moving forward through a barricade placed on roads. The PTI workers chanted slogans demanding Imran Khan’s release as well as against the government. Talking to the media, Khan’s sister Noreen Khan vowed to continue their protests for Khan’s release from jail. “We will do whatever it takes to get Imran Khan out of prison. These oppressors have committed injustice, she said. She further said that the people present were standing there out of love and loyalty for Imran Khan, emphasizing that their support would not go in vain despite the challenges they face. Aleema Khan said that we will continue our sit-in till the meeting with Khan. “We have brought warm clothes with us to deal with the water cannon police used against us last Tuesday”, she said, adding that mental torture is worse than physical torture, and they have subjected Khan to mental torture. She said that Khan is physically fit; therefore, they are torturing him mentally. “This is our constitutional and legal right to meet our brother”, she said. “Every Tuesday, we are stopped here. We are not doing anything illegal or unconstitutional,” she said, questioning what options remain for them other than protest. “They ask us to step back, but what alternative do we have?” She said that the PTI founder’s demands are the restoration of the constitution, democracy, and the rule of law. Referring to the suspension of Afghan trade, she said thousands of people have lost their livelihoods as a result. She also alleged that the judiciary has lost its independence. Aleema Khan further asked whether shifting Imran Khan would improve the country’s overall security situation. The law enforcement agencies put security on high alert outside Adiala Jail and at all roads leading to the prison to avert any untoward incident. A heavy contingent of police personnel was deployed outside Adial jail and along all roads in the nearby areas. Khan’s sisters, PTI leaders, and workers continued the sit-in till filing of this report. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025