He claims the police resorted to violence against a peaceful gathering, dragged his elder sister and assaulted PTI ministers.
PTI founder Imran Khan’s sisters Dr Uzma Khan (left), Aleema Khan and Noreen Khan address a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. — Photo: SABAH
Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan, accused police of unleashing a violent crackdown outside Adiala Jail, claiming her elder sister was dragged along the road and female lawyers were pushed into police vans as officers ended a 10-hour sit-in on Tuesday night.
Addressing a press conference alongside Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Khan as well as PTI leaders, she said she was forced to speak out due to the conditions under which the PTI founder is detained. She alleged that Khan had been placed in solitary confinement, while they peacefully demanded the court-granted right to meet him.
Aleema said their protests have never caused harm to anyone, yet they are repeatedly denied permission to see their brother. He claimed that even last week his sister, a doctor, was detained for several hours and police officers deployed at the scene misbehaved with her.
Recounting the events of Tuesday night, he said the family had informed authorities that they would not end their sit-in if they were denied a meeting. “We were no more than 20 or 25 people sitting on a path about half a kilometer from Adiala, and some journalists were also present,” he said.
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He alleged that the police first attacked and dispersed the journalists and then moved towards PTI’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ministers Mina Khan, Shahid Khattak, Shafqat and Abdus Salam. “We told them to leave because they had turned off the lights and we believed an attack was imminent. We kept urging them to leave, but they refused,” he said. Aleema claimed that the ministers were beaten and questioned whether this reflected Punjab Police protocol.
He further alleged that the female police officers, whom he referred to as “Gullu Butts women”, were summoned and one officer, identified as Gulnaz, ordered others to “beat” them. She added that her sister Noreen, 71, was thrown to the ground and dragged, and that the sanctity of women’s headscarves was ignored when 17 female lawyers were bundled into a police van and dragged by their hair.
During the press conference, Uzma said that Imran had sent a message urging the nation to prepare mentally. “The time has come: either freedom or death. Yesterday we saw that now there is no other option,” he said. He claimed that the PTI founder had been in solitary confinement for two weeks and that his request to meet him was denied. “If you want to beat us, beat us. If you want to imprison us, do it. But we will not trust anyone regarding the founder’s case,” he added.
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Noreen said her son is incarcerated and that “a system of oppression” exists. She also claimed police dragged her by the hair and questioned the intentions of those in power. He further alleged that the authorities want Imran removed because he has refused to accept Israel, while stating that May 9 and November 26 were “planned events” and promising that they would not forget the injustices.
Aleema added that they would continue to sit outside Adiala jail and would not abandon their brother. “If they want to kill us, we are willing to die. We do not accept slavery. This is not occupied Pakistan; all Pakistanis have the right to this land and we will name those who commit injustice,” he concluded.
KP Provincial Minister Mina Khan Afridi said meetings with the PTI founder had been stopped after he was placed in solitary confinement. Recalling the incident, he claimed that women and elected representatives were attacked with water cannons during the cold night in front of Adiala Jail, despite court orders.
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Afridi said that even in war women are not a target, but a local SHO allegedly raised his hand against them. He warned the authorities that the PTI would not make concessions: “If you block the meetings with the founder, we will come back and expose his face to the world.”
Another PTI leader and member of the National Assembly, Shahid Khattak, claimed that during their peaceful protest, the police pushed and abused them. He said they feared for their founder and the alleged authorities intended to transfer him from Adiala to Balochistan while keeping him in solitary confinement.
Also addressing the press, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas condemned the alleged violence, calling it “a dark day”. He said no culture, religion or law allows such treatment and questioned what crime the PTI founder had committed. He called for nationwide protests on Friday, urging people to wear black armbands.
PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja urged the authorities to “come to their senses” and said the PTI founder has the right to meet his sisters. He called for protection of freedom of expression, of journalists, of conscience and of the judiciary, adding that “God’s justice is silent but sure.”
