PTI Leaders Detained Outside Adiala Jail in Defiance of Court Orders
Key Developments:
- Brief Detentions: Senior PTI leaders, including Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmed Khan Bhachar, SIC chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Imran Khan’s three sisters (Aleema, Uzma, and Noreen Khan), were detained near Adiala Jail while attempting to meet the PTI founder.
- Mysterious Detention: Eyewitnesses reported that the group was forcibly taken in a prison van, driven around the city (including stops at a restaurant and petrol station), and later released without being allowed to meet Imran Khan.
- Defiance of Court Orders: Despite Islamabad High Court (IHC) directives permitting meetings, jail authorities and police blocked access for the second consecutive week.
Strong Reactions from PTI Leaders:
- Aleema Khan’s Outrage:
- Accused authorities of contempt of court, questioning why judges remain silent if their orders hold no weight.
- “Forget that we’re Imran’s sisters—just look at what they’re doing to elected parliamentarians.”
- Warned that judicial authority is eroding, asking: “If judges can’t enforce their orders, why occupy those seats?”
- Omar Ayub’s Warning:
- Called the incident an “indictment day for Pakistan’s judiciary”, alleging “virtual martial law” in the country.
- Revealed police cited “an intelligence colonel’s orders” to block access.
- “Would the heavens have fallen if we met Imran Khan?”
- Warned of collapsing public trust and deterred foreign investment due to lawlessness.
- PTI’s Broader Concerns:
- Salman Akram Raja condemned the routine flouting of court orders, urging public resistance to prevent Pakistan from becoming a “jungle or graveyard of justice.”
- PTI warned of rising public anger and political instability if such harassment continues.
Political Fallout:
- Ayub accused NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq of misleading Parliament over PTI’s canal resolution submission date.
- PTI leaders questioned why elected representatives are being treated like criminals, warning of a systemic breakdown.
The repeated obstruction of court-sanctioned meetings with Imran Khan underscores growing tensions between the judiciary and executive. PTI’s allegations of state-backed lawlessness and judicial impotence signal deepening political strife. If courts fail to enforce their authority, Pakistan risks further institutional decay and public disillusionment. The standoff also raises concerns about due process and democratic norms ahead of crucial political battles.
