RAWALPINDI – On August 12, 2025, Aleema Khan and Noreen Niazi, sisters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, were briefly taken into custody near the Dahgal checkpoint in Rawalpindi after staging a sit-in protest over being allegedly denied permission to meet their brother, who remains incarcerated at Adiala Jail. The women were later released the same day without charges.
Protest and Brief Detention
The protest unfolded near the outer security perimeter of Adiala Jail, where Aleema and Noreen had reportedly planned a routine visit. Upon being stopped by law enforcement personnel at the checkpoint, the two initiated a roadside sit-in, drawing a small crowd and media presence.
Aleema Khan, speaking to reporters on site, criticized jail authorities and claimed their scheduled meeting had been “arbitrarily cancelled.” She accused the government of violating principles of transparency and open legal process, suggesting that access to Imran Khan was being deliberately obstructed.
Rawalpindi police intervened shortly after the protest began, escorting the women away from the area in a police van. Conflicting accounts emerged regarding their release—some reports suggest they were dropped at a local interchange, while others claim they were briefly detained for identification and then released without formal arrest.
Recurring Pattern or Political Optics?
This is the second such incident in recent months involving Aleema Khan and Noreen Niazi. In April 2025, they were similarly stopped during a protest outside Adiala Jail. Their repeated appearances at protest sites have led some observers to question whether these actions reflect genuine legal grievances or calculated political positioning.
Government’s Response: “Staged for Attention”
The federal government has rejected allegations of denied access, calling the incident “a manufactured controversy”.
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, dismissed the protest as “a publicity stunt designed for media optics.”
Officials from the Punjab Home Department also stated that prison visitation procedures were being followed as per protocol, and no formal appointment had been scheduled or authorized for August 12.
Broader Context
The incident reflects the ongoing tension surrounding Imran Khan’s incarceration, where family members and political affiliates regularly challenge the state’s legal procedures—often outside the courtroom and in front of television cameras.
While Imran Khan’s supporters have framed such protests as acts of civil resistance, critics argue they are part of a deliberate strategy to politicize routine administrative matters, turning procedural enforcement into confrontational spectacles.
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