Meeting with Imran Khan Blocked, Protests Warned Across Pakistan

The Senate witnessed uproar on Friday as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers staged loud protests demanding access to their jailed founding chairman Imran Khan, raising concerns about his health and alleging deliberate isolation.

Chants of “arrange a meeting with the founding chairman” disrupted proceedings, leaving the upper house struggling to conduct business. PTI senators accused authorities of withholding information about Khan’s condition and blocking even brief, non-political meetings with family and legal counsel.

Senator Ali Zafar warned that PTI would not allow the house to function until the government responded. Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani assured members that he had spoken with the National Assembly speaker and a meeting time would be arranged.

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry rejected claims of deteriorating health, dismissing reports as “false propaganda spread by Indian media and social media.” He insisted Imran Khan was “absolutely fine” and said the government was willing to raise visitation concerns with the interior minister.

Earlier in the day, PTI’s campaign for access to Khan reached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) once again, as his sister Aleema Khan filed a contempt petition against Adiala Jail authorities for allegedly defying a binding court order that restored his twice-weekly meeting schedule. The petition accused jail officials of “wilfully flouting” directives and turning visitation into a political punishment.

Tensions outside Adiala Jail also escalated, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi staging an overnight sit-in after being denied access for the eighth time. Afridi accused authorities of deliberately isolating Khan and discriminating against the PTI-led provincial government. He warned that such actions were “creating division” and vowed that PTI would block parliamentary sessions until visitation rights were restored.

Afridi further called on parliamentarians nationwide to join a peaceful protest outside the IHC on Tuesday before marching toward Adiala Jail, declaring that the Constitution guarantees the right to protest.