Aleema files contempt petition over denial of meeting with Imran Khan

Aleema Khan, sister of Imran Khan, has filed a contempt of court petition against senior officials including the superintendent of Adiala Jail alleging they ignored a recent order from Islamabad High Court (IHC) that reinstated twice-weekly visitation rights for the incarcerated former prime minister. (Dawn)

The petition was submitted after Sohail Afridi, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), along with other leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), staged an overnight sit-in outside the jail, following Afridi’s eighth consecutive denial of a meeting with Imran Khan.

Background  

Imran Khan has been held at Adiala Jail since 2023. His family including Aleema and her sisters have repeatedly complained about being denied access despite court orders. Over recent months, multiple sit-ins and pleas inside the IHC have been lodged seeking compliance with visitation rights.

After the latest denial, KP CM Afridi declared that the matter would be re-submitted to the IHC. Soon after, Aleema filed the contempt plea. (Dawn)

Contempt Petition - Respondents and Allegations  

The petition names the following as respondents:

• Prison Superintendent of Adiala Jail, Abdul Ghafoor Anjum

• SHO of Saddar Berooni Police Station, Raja Aizaz Azeem

• Federal Interior Secretary, Muhammad Khurram Agha (Capt retd)

• Secretary of Punjab Home Department, Noorul Amin

Aleema’s plea argues that the authorities willfully ignored the IHC’s March 24 order, which reinstated a schedule allowing meetings twice weekly (family visits and lawyers/friends meetings). She claims the jail administration repeatedly failed to implement the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued on March 28, 2024 for this purpose.(Dawn)

The petition also recalls a commitment submitted by the jail superintendent in November 2024 promising scheduled visits for family and associates. However, when PTI leaders attempted to meet on November 11, 2024, they were reportedly made to wait for several hours before being detained the plea calls this a deliberate attempt to block access and a gross violation of the IHC order.

The plea asks the court to initiate contempt proceedings against the respondents and to enforce immediate compliance with the March 24 order. It urges that responsible officials be punished under law to safeguard the rights of the prisoner and ensure future adherence to court directives.

Reactions & Concerns  

At the IHC premises, CM Afridi said he and Aleema were informed that the Chief Justice “did not want to meet them,” adding that neither Imran Khan nor his wife Bushra Bibi have had visitors since October 27. He criticised the denial of family, legal, and medical access, and described the situation as deeply discriminatory.

Afridi recalled a previous protest on November 19 when Imran’s sisters were allegedly manhandled by police during a demonstration at the jail gate. He warned of further political action: the PTI intends to call for peaceful protests outside the high court and jail if access is not restored.

On the other hand, the government has challenged these demands. Attaullah Tarar, Information Minister, criticised the PTI for focusing on what he called an “illegal demand” seeking political guidance from an incarcerated leader and said prison-visitation rules cannot accommodate such demands.

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