Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has called on his Punjab counterpart, Maryam Nawaz, to hold responsible those who allegedly mistreated the sisters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and to ensure strict implementation of court-ordered visitation rights.
In a letter addressed to CM Maryam Nawaz, Afridi emphasized that judicial directives clearly outlined Imran Khan’s visitation rights, allowing close family members and authorized individuals to meet him on designated days.
“Despite the clear and binding nature of these instructions, repeated reports indicate persistent non-compliance by authorities responsible for enforcement,” Afridi wrote, highlighting concerns over repeated violations.
The letter specifically mentions the brief detention and alleged mistreatment of Imran Khan’s sisters — Aleema Khan, Noreen Khan Niazi, and Uzma Khanum — after they staged a sit-in near Central Jail Rawalpindi on Adiala Road. The sisters were reportedly protesting after being denied permission to meet their brother and his wife, Bushra Bibi.
Police reportedly requested the sisters to vacate the road, but Aleema Khan refused to end the sit-in. Authorities then used water cannons and detained 8 to 10 PTI activists, including the sisters. Aleema Khan has been a regular visitor to her brother at Adiala and serves as a key link for conveying his messages to PTI supporters.
Describing the incident as “disturbing,” CM Afridi stated that the individuals involved were “apolitical private citizens” merely seeking to meet their brother in line with court orders. “There is no legal or administrative basis for obstructing or mistreating immediate family members. Their detention or harassment is wholly unacceptable,” he added.
Afridi stressed that such actions give the impression that judicial directives are being ignored, which is “untenable and incompatible with basic expectations of due process and the rule of law.” He urged the Punjab government to ensure a safe and dignified area for authorized visitors and to identify and hold accountable those responsible for obstructing or mistreating peaceful visitors, including Imran Khan’s family.
He also called for clear directives to prison and police authorities and a transparent mechanism to guarantee orderly, respectful, and legally compliant future meetings.
“Any deviation from court-mandated procedures or disrespectful treatment of Imran Khan’s immediate family becomes a matter of direct institutional concern,” Afridi wrote. “I am therefore compelled to demand that these issues be addressed promptly, decisively, and fully in accordance with judicial directions. Your attention to this matter is crucial to uphold the dignity of all concerned and maintain the rule of law.”
