By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday barred Uzma Khanum, sister imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan and others from the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, from further meetings with the party’s imprisoned founder, citing violations of prison rules during a recent visit that included prohibited political discussions.
The decision, announced at a news conference by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, came amid escalating tensions over Khan’s incarceration and persistent rumors about his health, which have fueled criticism of the government’s handling of the former prime minister’s case.
Khanum had met with Khan on Tuesday at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, after weeks of efforts by family members to secure access. The encounter followed widespread speculation in local and foreign media about Khan’s well-being, even as both government officials and PTI leaders maintained that he was in good health. The government’s reluctance to permit visits from family members, legal representatives and others in recent weeks had amplified those concerns.
During the meeting, Khanum received instructions from Khan on political and other matters, which she later shared with the party. But officials said the discussion breached prison protocols. “There is no room in the rules for political discussions and it was reported that political discussions occurred, so meetings are now banned for Uzma Khan,” Attaullah Tarar said at the news conference. “This won’t happen.”
He added that reports had emerged of incitement against the state and its officials. “Meetings are banned for anyone who violates the rules,” the information minister said, noting that it was improper for visitors to hold meetings and then “peddle Indian and Afghan stances and orchestrate posts against the army and the army chief.” A chance had been provided, he said, but now “the meeting has been banned for whoever committed the violation.” The government would tolerate no further breaches and would deal with violators “with iron hands,” Attaullah Tarar said. “There is zero room for a circus.”
Azam Nazeer Tarar, the law minister, emphasised that the prison rules governing meetings remained unchanged and included specific restrictions on conduct. He criticised the PTI for disseminating unfounded claims about Khan’s health, pointing out that Khanum herself had confirmed the former prime minister was safe and sound. “No prisoner has ever been provided a jogging machine,” the law minister said, while accusing Khan’s sisters of supplying claims to Indian and Afghan media that Khan’s life was under threat.
Recalling Khan’s actions during his time as prime minister, Azam Nazeer Tarar said the PTI founder used to “run his hand over his face and say he would get so and so arrested, remove their AC.” The law minister accused the opposition of using international media to propagate narratives against Pakistan. He also took aim at Khan’s three sisters, saying they had created “law and order situations outside the jail.” “This cannot continue — you meet inside and run propaganda outside,” Azam Nazeer Tarar said. “You were given an opportunity, and whoever violated the rules has had their meetings stopped.”
He contrasted this with his own party’s past behavior, noting that they had visited prisoners without inciting disruptions. “We, too, used to visit prisoners, but never created a law and order situation,” the minister said. Vowing to uphold the authority of the state, Azam Nazeer Tarar declared there would be no more “spectacles outside Adiala every day.” “Meetings have a purpose — to ask about well being,” he said, adding that during the sessions, the PTI founder had urged that “the state should be brought down.” “You want to weaken the country’s defence? Damage its sovereignty? You want to challenge a state that defeated India?” the law minister asked.
Azam Nazeer Tarar clarified that the restrictions on meetings with Mr. Khan were being applied under the Pakistan Prison Rules, a matter he said fell under the purview of the Punjab provincial government, which administers Adiala Jail. “The PTI founder is a convicted prisoner by a competent court of jurisdiction,” the law minister said, explaining that visitation rights were governed solely by the jail manual.He cited Rule 265, which limits superior-class prisoners to one meeting per week with up to six visitors, prohibits political discussions and bars the publicizing of conversations or letters through press conferences or social media. Rule 548 requires all meetings to occur under the jail superintendent’s supervision, Azam Nazeer Tarar said, while Rule 557 authorizes the supervising officer to end a meeting if the conversation or conduct is seen as harmful to public order or peace.
Under Rule 560, the superintendent can halt meetings if he believes the interaction might be made public in a manner that could provoke unrest, the minister added. He also referenced Rule 561, which addresses the abuse of privileges. “The entire set of rules gives a prominent and central role to the jail superintendent,” Azam Nazeer Tarar said, affirming that all actions were in line with established regulations.
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