Why is Imran Khan Unreachable? PTI Plans Protests in Twin Cities
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- PTI protests signal rising tensions in Pakistan's political environment.
- Imran Khan's health remains a major concern for supporters.
- The government’s restrictions under Section 144 prompt public scrutiny.
- Opposition lawmakers are rallying for transparency and access to Khan.
- The situation could impact the future of PTI and its leadership.
Islamabad, December 2 (NationPress) With Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), remaining unreachable to both party officials and his own family, the party has declared plans for protests outside the Islamabad High Court and Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi this Tuesday.
The protests arise in response to the government's recent decision to impose a ban on public gatherings and limit visitation rights, raising alarm regarding Khan's well-being.
Heightened worries about Khan's health, along with circulating rumors regarding his death, prompted authorities to implement Section 144 in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
This order, enacted by Deputy Commissioner Dr. Hassan Waqar Cheema, enforces Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2024, for three days, starting from December 1 to December 3, as reported by local media.
The directive, dated December 1, outlines an "imminent threat within the boundaries of District Rawalpindi" and states that these restrictions are intended to uphold "public safety, security, peace, and tranquility."
PTI leader Asad Qaiser informed a prominent Pakistani newspaper, Dawn, that opposition lawmakers from both parliamentary houses will assemble outside the IHC before proceeding to Adiala Jail.
"We have resolved to conduct protests because the IHC has failed to enforce its order, and the Adiala jail administration is reluctant to comply with court directives," he stated.
The situation escalated last week when the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa organized a sit-in outside Adiala Jail after being denied a meeting with Khan for the eighth consecutive time.
Khan's relatives have also been prevented from visiting him for several weeks.
Recently, officials at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi confirmed that the PTI founder has not been relocated from prison and continues to be "in good health."
In a statement released on Wednesday, Rawalpindi prison officials asserted, "There is no validity to reports regarding his transfer from Adiala Jail. He is in full health and receiving comprehensive medical attention," as reported by another leading Pakistani publication, The News International.
The officials dismissed the rumors surrounding his health as "baseless" and emphasized that Imran Khan's welfare is being adequately managed.
Since August 2023, Khan has been incarcerated, facing a multitude of charges, including corruption and terrorism, following his removal from power via a no-confidence vote in 2022.
This statement from jail authorities comes as PTI has been pressing the government for clarity regarding rumors about Imran Khan. They are urging officials to facilitate a meeting between the PTI founder and his family, as Khan's sisters have not been permitted to see him in recent weeks, which has led to their concerns regarding his situation.