Imran Khan’s sisters — Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, and Noreen Khan Niazi — are among 400 people sued after police dispersed a sit-in near Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where the PTI founder and former prime minister is currently imprisoned.
The protest, staged by party workers and supporters, was aimed at demanding a court-mandated meeting with Khan.
Police launched an operation at 2:00 am on Wednesday, using water cannons and baton charges to disperse the demonstrators. At least 14 PTI workers were arrested and presented before an anti-terrorism court (ATC), which granted three days of physical remand before returning them to police custody.
The FIR filed on December 17 names 35 nominated individuals, including Khan’s sisters, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, party leader Aliya Hamza, and PTI lawyer Naeem Panjhuta, under various sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, and the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Charges include terrorism, criminal conspiracy, rioting, attempted murder, obstruction of public servants, and violations related to explosives and incendiary substances.
Imran Khan, imprisoned since August 2023, is serving a sentence in a £190 million corruption case and faces additional trials under the ATA related to the May 9, 2023 protests.
While concerns about his health have been raised by his family, Uzma Khan recently stated that he was “physically fine” but subjected to mental torture, confined to his cell for most of the day with very limited contact.
A UN special rapporteur has warned that Khan’s detention conditions could amount to inhuman or degrading treatment, calling on Pakistani authorities to follow international human rights standards.
Source: Dawn