Denied Again: PTI’s Sit-In Outside Adiala Jail Dispersed with Water Cannons

RAWALPINDI — Imran Khan’s sisters and supporters of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), staged yet another sit-in outside Adiala Jail on Tuesday after being denied permission to meet the incarcerated former prime minister, only to be pushed back by police using water cannons late into the night.

The protest came after prison authorities refused to allow Aleema Khan, Noreen Khan and Dr Uzma Khan, joined by senior PTI figures, to meet Imran Khan on the court-mandated visiting day. PTI says an Islamabad High Court order requires authorities to permit such meetings twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but the party accuses officials of flouting the directive.

Chanting, Sit-In and a Cold Response
Protesters gathered near the Factory Naka checkpoint on Adiala Road, waving flags and chanting slogans for the jailed party founder. As the crowd refused to disperse, Punjab police deployed high-pressure water cannons around and after 1 am, forcing demonstrators off the roadway. Videos shared on social media by PTI’s official X account showed the sprays hitting people standing in cold night temperatures.

PTI and allied groups, including the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), condemned the police action, saying “chemical-laced” water was used against women, children and peaceful citizens. Several activists were reportedly affected by the blasts, and Aleema Khan was briefly taken into custody before being released near Chakri Interchange in the early hours, party sources said.

Demands and Defiance
At the protest site, Aleema Khan vowed the sit-in would continue until the court’s visitation order is honored, branding the constant denial as “unfortunate” and a sign of authorities’ fear of Imran’s influence. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja echoed this, arguing access to family visits for prisoners is a basic human right.

Senior party figures, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, criticised the government’s refusal to grant the meeting, calling it a breach of legal rights and underscoring the party’s resolve to push ahead with their protest movement alongside calls for political dialogue.

Background of Escalating Tensions
This is not the first time protests have been broken up at Adiala Jail. In recent weeks, sit-ins by PTI workers and Imran’s sisters have led to confrontations with law enforcement and occasional detentions as the party presses for access to the former premier amid broader political friction in the country.

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