- CM Afridi denounces the persistent lack of implementation of court orders.
- There is no conceivable basis for mistreating immediate family members.
- Urges accountability for those responsible for poor treatment of visitors.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has asked his Punjab counterpart Maryam Nawaz to hold those responsible for mistreatment of the sisters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan accountable and ensure implementation of court orders for meetings with the former prime minister.
In a letter to CM Maryam, Afridi highlighted that “clear and binding” court instructions governed Imran’s visitation rights, allowing close relatives and designated individuals to meet him on certain days.
“Despite the unambiguous nature of these instructions, numerous reports indicate that the authorities responsible for their implementation persist in not implementing them,” complained the KP executive director.
The letter also refers to the brief detention and alleged mistreatment of Khan’s sisters, Aleema Khan, Noreen Khan Niazi and Uzma Khanum, by authorities after they refused to end their sit-in near Rawalpindi Central Jail on Adiala Road after failing to obtain permission to meet the PTI founder.
The sisters of the jailed PTI founder, along with dozens of party workers, staged a sit-in on Adiala Road after they were denied permission to meet him and his wife Bushra Bibi.
Meanwhile, police asked Khan’s sister to clear the road, but talks failed and Aleema refused to call off the sit-in. After that, police sprayed water on the road and detained 8-10 PTI activists, including Khan’s sisters.
Aleema has been visiting her imprisoned brother in Adiala and has served as a key channel to convey Imran’s messages to PTI workers through the media.
Expanding on the incident described as “disturbing” by CM Afridi, he said these individuals were “apolitical private citizens” who were only seeking to reunite with their brother in accordance with the court’s directives.
“[….] There is no conceivable legal or administrative basis for obstructing or mistreating immediate family members whose presence is neither political nor disruptive. Therefore, your obstruction, physical restraint or temporary detention is totally unacceptable,” the letter reads.
The KP provincial chief executive, while lamenting that “such actions create a clear impression that judicial directives are being ignored” and that the situation was “untenable and irreconcilable with basic expectations of due process and rule of law”, urged CM Maryam to ensure that a safe and dignified area is ensured for authorized visitors.
It also urged the Punjab government to identify and hold accountable those responsible for obstructing, insulting or physically abusing peaceful visitors, including Imran’s family members, issue clear and enforceable directives to prison and police authorities and establish a transparent mechanism to ensure that future meetings are facilitated in an orderly, respectful and law-abiding manner.
Furthermore, the KP CM noted that any deviation from court-ordered procedures or disrespectful treatment towards his immediate family “becomes a matter of direct institutional concern” and said he could not remain indifferent when the dignity of a former head of government and his legitimate rights were compromised.
“I am therefore compelled to demand that these issues be addressed promptly, decisively and in full compliance with judicial instructions.
“I would appreciate your [CM Maryam] attention to the above so that the dignity of all those involved is respected and the rule of law remains intact,” CM Afridi concluded.
