Imran’s sisters, PTI leaders arrested, released

RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Police detained former prime minister Imran Khan’s sisters, with top Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, outside the Adiala jail on Thursday only to release them later.

In a dramatic escalation, the police executed a sweeping operation detaining six opposition party leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan. The operation, conducted outside the high-security Adiala jail, also resulted in the arrest of party’s founder chairman’s three sisters, Aleema Khanum, Noreen Khan and Uzma Khanum.

The arrests transpired at an under-construction plaza adjacent to the jail, where the PTI figures had gathered. Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Ahmad Khan Bhachar, Niazullah Niazi, Sahibzada Hamid Raza Khan, Zartaj Gul, and Qasim Niazi were also among those arrested.

The situation escalated as authorities locked down the plaza’s main gate, trapping Aleema Khan and others inside. Opposition Leader Omer Ayub Khan arrived at Dahgal check-post near Adiala on a motorcycle, claiming he had to evade multiple police checkpoints.

As tensions flared, Ayub was seen consulting with Aleema Khan inside the plaza before police sealed the building. By evening, PTI supporters had gathered nearby, chanting slogans for the leaders’ release, as the standoff continued.

Later, the detainees were released at Chakri Interchange after four hours of detention.

Talking to the media, after they were released from the police captivity, Omar Ayub and Aleema Khan charged that their arrest and non-compliance of the court order was the judiciary’s contempt. Ayub claimed that right now, virtual martial law had been imposed in the country, which had to be ended. They slammed the government and insisted heaven would not have fallen, if they had met their leader in Adiala jail.

Omar Ayub said, “Today is the indictment on the judiciary and a charge-sheet. I want to say to the chief justice of Pakistan and the four chief justices that the judiciary’s system is in their hands. The Punjab police and intelligence agencies are flouting the court orders, he alleged.

Omar Ayub complained he, Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Ahmad Khan, Hamid Raza and Imran’s sisters were denied meeting their leader in the jail despite having the court orders. He pledged to go the provincial assembly, National Assembly, courts and everywhere and stand by their leader come what may.

The opposition leader disputed a statement of the National Assembly Speaker as wrong and insisted that he had got submitted PTI’s resolution on March 12 in the Speaker office against the six canals, whereas the speaker said the resolution was filed on April 10. Likewise, Omar Ayub claimed the entire speech record of Junaid Akbar Khan was removed from the NA archive.

Earlier, Aleema Khan said that it were not they but the courts that are being insulted, the judges should worry about it and take action. She noted that this is the second time they are doing this. “They pick us up from the Adiala and drop us off on the motorway, we have not broken any law.” She said that contempt of court happens every day.