Several senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), along with the jailed party founder Imran Khan’s sisters, were briefly detained by Rawalpindi police on Thursday near Adiala Jail. They were released shortly after from the Chakri Interchange, according to sources.
The group, which included National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmed Khan Bhachar, and Imran Khan’s sisters Aleema Khan, Noreen Khanum, and Uzma Khanum, was taken into custody following a verbal altercation with police officials.
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The confrontation occurred after the leaders were denied access to meet Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned at Adiala Jail.
Police officials reportedly presented arrest warrants and said, “We will arrest you all,” before escorting the detained individuals into a prison van. PTI’s Qasim Khan, a cousin of the former premier, was also among those held.
Speaking to reporters before being taken away, Omar Ayub criticized the arrests. “Look at this – they are arresting the Leader of the Opposition,” he stated, adding that leaders from both the National and Punjab Assemblies, as well as SIC’s Hamid Raza, were also detained. He also referenced a previous confrontation in parliament, saying, “I didn’t let Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi sit in the house. What kind of law is this?”
PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram condemned the detentions, calling them “extremely deplorable” and demanded the immediate release of the leaders and Khan’s family members. He also warned of a “strong public reaction” if such tactics continued.
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The arrests followed a week of tension near Adiala Jail, where PTI workers clashed with law enforcement at the Gorakhpur checkpoint after being barred from meeting Khan. The police resorted to baton charges while PTI supporters responded with stone-pelting. Several were arrested during the scuffle.
The confrontation was eventually de-escalated after Omar Ayub assured police of the party’s cooperation. Imran Khan’s sisters and other detained leaders were released after a few hours and returned home with Qasim Khan.
Meanwhile, the federal government has denied any involvement in restricting Khan’s meetings with party members or family. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar dismissed PTI’s claims of mistreatment, stating that Khan is allowed multiple visits each week—more than any other political detainee.
In a recent appearance on Geo News’ Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, Tarar claimed that internal divisions within PTI, particularly between factions led by Aleema Khan and Bushra Bibi, were to blame for the confusion regarding access to Khan. “I don’t know which PTI faction is preventing the other from meeting him,” he remarked.