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• Aleema, Noreen criticise govt for not informing family before taking PTI founder to Pims for a fifth time
• Party’s protest outside Adiala fails to impress, despite opposition leader’s claims
ISLAMABAD: Rejecting the government’s account of Imran Khan’s health, his sister Aleema Khan on Tuesday demanded that the incarcerated PTI founder be shifted to Shifa International Hospital, alleging that authorities were denying him proper medical treatment.
Speaking to reporters outside Adiala jail during a sit-in organised by the former premier’s family and supporters, she said the government was not being truthful about his health.
“The government does not speak the truth. They are not allowing treatment for Imran Khan. We have repeatedly requested the PTI leadership to join us and exert pressure on the government to ensure his admission to Shifa International Hospital,” she said.
The government and jail administration would have to answer for this, she said.
Her sister, Noreen Niazi, also rejected official medical reports and accused the government and jail authorities of shifting him to the public-sector Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) for a fifth time “without informing the family”.
Aleema Khan alleged the government was fearful of Imran Khan and referred to one of his recent social media posts in which he warned that Pakistan was heading in the same direction as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
She alleged those demanding their rights in Pakistan were often branded traitors. Referring to recent unrest in Bangladesh, she urged the government to learn lessons from regional developments and handle the Kashmir issue prudently, claiming that people there continued to stand for their rights.
While dismissing reports of any behind-the-scenes negotiations involving PTI, Noreen Niazi said, “This misinformation is being spread by the agencies. We cannot hold talks with those who have stolen the election.”
The size of the PTI’s protest outside Adiala on Tuesday highlighted a gap between party’s mobilisation claims and the actual turnout.
Aleema Khan said that opposition leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai had conveyed that the PTI could gather 10,000 supporters outside the jail if given adequate time, and had proposed a protest window from 2pm to 6pm, though the family suggested 3pm to 7pm to spare participants the worst of the day’s heat.
Nevertheless, she hoped that more supporters would arrive, maintaining that the sit-in would conclude at 7pm regardless.
PTI North Punjab Senior Vice-President Malik Yasir Patwali, however, described the gathering as satisfactory and said attendance was expected to increase further.
He told Dawn the North Punjab chapter of the PTI was hosting the protest and that a meeting chaired by regional president Malik Taimoor Masood had directed every party ticket-holder to bring at least 50 supporters. He said all leaders scheduled to meet Mr Khan were present at the protest, but alleged that law enforcement agencies had prevented workers from reaching the venue initially but allowed only after the lapse of some time.
Meanwhile, PTI asked the jail superintendent to allow Gohar Ali Khan, Salman Akram Raja, Naeem Panjutha, Fateh Ullah Burki, Muhammad Dilpazir Butt and Masooma Mir to meet Mr Khan.
Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2026
