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PTI Decries ‘Blatant Violation of Rights’ as Imran’s Sisters again Barred from Meeting Him at Adiala Jail

 

Islamabad: Sisters of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan were again not allowed to meet him at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on Tuesday, while his party termed the persistent denial of meetings with the ex-prime minister a “blatant violation of fundamental human and constitutional rights”.

The IHC has  allowed  Imran twice-a-week meetings — on Tuesday and Thursdays — with his family, lawyers and other associates. Despite the order, the ex-premier has been largely restricted from meeting visitors for several weeks.

His  last meeting  took place with his lawyer, Salman Safdar, on February 10, after the Supreme Court’s intervention following a long period of no visits being allowed.

Speaking to the media outside the Adiala jail, one of Imran’s sisters, Aleema Khanum, said it was important to determine the cause of Imran’s medical issues, which have garnered attention in recent days.

On Monday, Imran  underwent a third eye procedure  at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). In a statement issued by the hospital, the PTI founder was brought to PIMS for a third dose of an anti-VEGF intra-vitreal injection.

Meanwhile, Imran’s family and  personal doctors  want him to be admitted to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad and have been demanding that his personal physicians be provided access to him.

Aleema was also questioned why the government was insisting on Imran’s son — who live with their mother in the United Kingdom — travelling to Pakistan on their National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPS) to meet their father instead of issuing visas for them to travel on British passports.

Last week, Jemima Goldsmith, the former spouse of PTI founder Imran Khan, also  alleged  that the government was recommending that the former premier’s sons travel to Pakistan on NICOPs as they would have “no British protection” then.

Aleema further lamented that they were also not allowed to meet Imran on Eid al-Fitr.

Her sister, Noreen Niazi decried that “there is no law in the country”.

“We have been coming here for so many days and there has been no damage to any public property,” she maintained, adding that allegations of the PTI “creating a law-and-order situation are wrong”.

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, who was also present on the occasion, said lawyers were ready to protest and raise their voice for justice, despite the “government’s efforts to create a divide within the lawyer community”.

Meanwhile, the PTI condemned the persistent denial of meetings with Imran to his sisters in a statement, terming it a “blatant violation of fundamental human and constitutional rights”.

The party urged the judiciary to enforce its orders to “restore its fast-eroding credibility”.

The PTI said Imran had been in “prolonged solitary confinement”, which constituted a “clear breach of internationally recognized human rights standards”, including the United Nations’  Nelson Mandela Rules  — the universally recognized blueprint for effective and humane prison management.

The PTI said that under those principles, extended solitary confinement amounted to physical and psychological torture.

It demanded that Imran should be immediately granted access to his family, legal counsel, and party’s leadership; be removed from solitary confinement; be provided unhindered access to his personal physicians; and be shifted without delay to Shifa International Hospital for essential medical treatment.

The party’s Islamabad chapter proposed a roadmap, saying that Imran’s release would not be possible without a comprehensive and well-coordinated strategy.

It should be mentioned that the party had  announced  that registrations for a  movement  to release Imran, who has been imprisoned since May 2023 would begin after Eid.

“A detailed and actionable plan has been submitted to Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, outlining a path toward achieving democratic stability and securing the release of Imran and other detainees,” PTI Islamabad Chapter President Amir Mughal told Dawn.

Mughal added that it would be difficult to overcome the current political challenges unless the party leadership presented a practical roadmap in line with the prevailing ground realities. - Dawn

Courtesy Dawn

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