Imran's sisters, KP CM demand meeting with incarcerated PTI founder, threaten sit-in

ISLAMABAD: The sisters of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister were once again denied a meeting with the ex-premier at Adiala jail on Tuesday.

Imran’s sister, Aleema Khan, told reporters that being denied a meeting was “nothing but contempt of court”, as they were not being allowed to meet Imran despite clear orders from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that family meetings be arranged every Tuesday and Thursday.

When asked about the sit-in, she said that last time, a police officer had requested them to leave and gave an assurance that he would not repeat the request the next time she came to the prison.

“I want to hold a sit-in throughout the night,” Aleema said.

KP CM Sohail Afridi urged parliamentarians from across Pakistan to stand in solidarity with Imran’s sisters, adding that he was in Rawalpindi on Aleema’s invitation.

“These people are shameless. They have paralysed the whole system after the constitutional amendment,” he said. “It is unfortunate that the judiciary is also paralysed. Now we have been left with only one option: to go on the streets.”

PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja said that the last meeting with Imran was held with one of the sisters in December, which was unacceptable, adding that discussions within the party were ongoing.

“Two days ago, there was also a meeting with the sisters in Lahore. These are difficult and emotionally charged times. We will move forward with wisdom,” he added.

PTI assails ban on Gilgit Baltistan political party

Meanwhile, Sheikh Waqas Akram condemned the federal government and the Election Commission of Gilgit Baltistan (GB) for banning the Gilgit Baltistan Democratic Party, which entered an electoral alliance with PTI for the 2026 elections.

Denouncing the ban in the strongest terms, the PTI spokesperson alleged that democracy in GB was being “strangulated” ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

“This is not governance; this is naked political vendetta and the systematic murder of democracy,” he declared.

“The government and the election commission have once again exposed their authoritarian agenda by crushing the only alternative platform that sought to give the people of Gilgit Baltistan a genuine voice through their alliance with PTI.”

Akram warned that the move constitutes a flagrant violation of the Constitution and every democratic norm.

He made it clear that the Constitution unequivocally guarantees every political party the right to organise, contest elections, and reach out to the electorate.

“Any attempt to suppress a party solely on the basis of its ideological or political affiliation is a criminal negation of democratic principles and a betrayal of the state’s constitutional responsibilities,” he asserted.

The party’s central information secretary also demanded that the ban be lifted immediately and unconditionally, adding that complete transparency must be ensured in the electoral process, with equal opportunities and a level playing field provided to all political parties.

He further stressed that the Election Commission must fulfil its constitutional duty with absolute impartiality and without any pressure from the federal government.