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Aleema Khan Files Contempt Plea Over Denial of Meetings With Imran Khan
Aleema Khan moves the IHC with a contempt plea after repeated denial of visitation rights for Imran Khan, as PTI stages sit-ins outside Adiala Jail.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-11-28
Aleema Khan Files Contempt Plea Over Denial of Meetings With Imran Khan

Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, has filed a contempt of court petition before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against Adiala Jail’s superintendent and several senior government officials for allegedly failing to comply with a court order allowing twice-weekly meetings with the incarcerated leader.

The move comes a day after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and PTI members staged an overnight sit-in outside Adiala Jail, where Imran has been imprisoned since 2023. CM Afridi said it was the eighth time he had been denied a meeting with the PTI founder.

PTI supporters and Imran’s family members have held multiple protests in recent weeks, accusing authorities of blocking access to the former premier in violation of court orders.

The Contempt Plea

The petition, filed by Aleema Khan on Friday, names Adiala Jail Superintendent Abdul Ghafoor Anjum, Saddar Beroni SHO Raja Aizaz Azeem, Interior Secretary Capt (retd) Muhammad Khurram Agha, and Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin as respondents.

Citing the IHC’s March 24 order, which reinstated twice-a-week visitation rights, Aleema alleged “wilful non-implementation” of the court’s directives. She said the respondents repeatedly denied meetings to Imran’s family, lawyers, and associates despite clear instructions.

The petition states that Aleema has been “deeply concerned about the well-being, legal rights, and humane treatment” of her brother. It further noted that multiple writ petitions had to be filed due to “persistent non-cooperation” by jail authorities and “ongoing political victimisation”.

The plea recalled that on March 28, 2024, authorities formulated SOPs designating Tuesdays for meetings with Imran’s friends and Thursdays for family and lawyers — but these were allegedly ignored.

It added that the jail superintendent had submitted an undertaking on November 8, 2024 assuring compliance the following week, yet when PTI leaders arrived on November 11, they were made to wait for hours and later detained.

Aleema argued that the respondents’ actions “ridiculed the authority” of the IHC and amounted to “serious contempt”.

Denied Meeting With IHC Chief Justice

Earlier on Friday morning, Aleema and CM Afridi arrived at the IHC hoping to meet the chief justice. However, according to Afridi, they were informed the CJ “did not want to meet them”. Speaking to the media, Afridi said that no one had been allowed to meet Imran or his wife Bushra Bibi since October 27, raising concerns about the former premier’s health and safety.

The KP chief minister claimed the PTI founder’s sisters had been mistreated by police during earlier sit-ins, alleging they were “dragged by their hair” and “disrespected”.

Warnings of Escalation

Afridi warned that the situation was deteriorating, saying the government’s refusal to allow visitation was “creating division” and risking unrest. He announced that the PTI had decided to block National Assembly and Senate proceedings in protest until access to Imran was granted.

The CM said the party would stage a peaceful protest outside the IHC on Tuesday and then proceed to Adiala Jail unless their legal rights were upheld.

Government Responds

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar criticised the PTI’s approach, accusing the party and the KP government of ignoring governance while focusing solely on an “illegal” demand — taking political guidance from an imprisoned leader.

He also alleged that a PTI politician had run an “anti-Pakistan campaign” using foreign accounts, calling it “open enmity” toward the state. Tarar urged the party to abandon what he described as a harmful narrative.

Longstanding Dispute Over Visitation

Imran’s family and PTI leaders say they have been consistently blocked from meeting him, despite repeated court orders. Since taking office on October 13, CM Afridi has attempted eight times to meet the former premier, including after obtaining protective bail and filing petitions with the IHC and the chief justice of Pakistan.

On October 23, the IHC again directed jail authorities to implement the March order — yet access remains restricted.

Multiple sit-ins have been held outside the jail, including on November 19 and November 25, with PTI alleging police manhandling and detentions.

Concerns Over Imran’s Health

PTI leaders, including Zulfi Bukhari, have voiced alarm over Imran Khan’s well-being, claiming that no one has seen him since November 4. “We are worried about his isolation,” Bukhari told Reuters. Media reports suggested he might be shifted to a high-security facility, prompting international coverage and the social media trend “Where is Imran Khan?”

A jail official, speaking anonymously, told Reuters that Imran was in good health. Adviser to the PM Rana Sanaullah and senior PTI leaders also stated on Thursday that the former premier was fine.

Despite these assurances, demands for access to the PTI founder continue to intensify, with the standoff between authorities and the party deepening ahead of the IHC proceedings on the contempt plea.
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