Aleema Khan recounts alleged police brutality at Adiala Jail protest

Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan accused police of unleashing a violent crackdown outside Adiala Jail, claiming her elderly sister was dragged on the road and female lawyers were shoved into police vans as officers ended a 10-hour sit in late Tuesday night.

Addressing a press conference alongside Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Khan, as well as PTI leaders, she said she was compelled to speak due to the conditions in which the PTI founder is being held. She alleged that Khan has been placed in solitary confinement, while they were peacefully demanding their court-granted right to meet him.

Aleema said their protests have never caused harm to anyone, yet they are repeatedly denied permission to see their brother. She claimed that even last week her sister, a doctor, was detained for several hours, and police officers deployed at the site misbehaved with them.

Recounting Tuesday night’s events, she said the family had informed authorities they would not end their sit-in if they were denied a meeting. “We were no more than 20 to 25 people sitting on a footpath about half a kilometre from Adiala, and a few journalists were also present,” she said.

Read More: Rawalpindi police take Imran Khan’s sisters into custody after 10-hour sit-in outside Adiala Jail

She alleged that police first targeted and dispersed reporters and then moved toward PTI’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ministers Mina Khan, Shahid Khattak, Shafqat and Abdus Salam. “We told them to leave because the lights had been switched off and we believed an attack was imminent. We kept urging them to go, but they refused,” she said. Aleema claimed the ministers were beaten and questioned whether this reflected the Punjab Police’s protocol.

She further alleged that female police personnel—whom she referred to as “female Gullu Butts”—were summoned and one officer, identified as Gulnaz, instructed others to “beat them.” She added that her 71-year-old sister, Noreen, was thrown to the ground and dragged, and that the sanctity of women’s veils was disregarded as 17 female lawyers were placed into a police van and dragged by their hair.

During the presser, Uzma said Imran had sent a message urging the nation to prepare mentally. “The time has come: either freedom or death. Yesterday, we actually saw that there is now no other choice,” she said. She claimed the PTI founder had been in solitary confinement for two weeks and their request to meet him was denied. “If you want to beat us, beat us. If you want to imprison us, do it. But we will not trust anyone regarding the founder’s case,” she added.

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Noreen said her son is imprisoned, saying that “a system of oppression” is in place. She also claimed police dragged her by the hair and questioned the intentions of those in power. She further alleged that authorities want Imran removed because he has refused to accept Israel while claiming that May 9 and November 26 were “planned events” and vowed they would not forget the injustices.

Aleema added that they would continue to sit outside Adiala Jail and would not abandon their brother. “If you want to kill us, we are ready to die. We do not accept slavery. This is not occupied Pakistan—every Pakistani has a right to this land, and we will name those who commit injustice,” she concluded. 

K-P provincial minister Mina Khan Afridi said meetings with the PTI founder had been stopped after placing him in solitary confinement. Recalling the incident, he claimed that women and elected representatives were assaulted with water cannons during the cold night outside Adiala Jail, despite judicial orders.

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Afridi said even in war women are not targeted, yet a local SHO allegedly raised his hand against them. She warned authorities that PTI would not compromise: “If you block meetings with the founder, we will come again and expose your face to the world.”

Another PTI leader and a Member of the National Assembly, Shahid Khattak, claimed that during their peaceful protest, police pushed and abused them. He said they feared for their founder and alleged authorities intended to shift him from Adiala to Balochistan while keeping him in solitary confinement.

Also addressing the presser, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas condemned the alleged violence, calling it “a dark day.” He said no culture, religion or law permits such treatment and questioned what crime the PTI founder had committed. He called for nationwide protests on Friday, urging people to wear black armbands.

PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja urged authorities to “come to their senses,” saying the PTI founder has the right to meet his sisters. He called for protection of freedom of speech, journalists, conscience and the judiciary, adding that “God’s justice is silent but certain.”