Former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan met his wife, Bushra Bibi, and sister Noreen Niazi at Adiala Jail on Tuesday, following a Supreme Court order permitting weekly meetings between the incarcerated leader and his family.
The meeting marked the first time in around nine months that Noreen Niazi was able to meet her brother. Their meeting lasted approximately 15 minutes. Noreen briefed Khan about the Supreme Court proceedings concerning his proposed transfer to Islamabad's Shifa Hospital, enquired about his health and discussed ongoing legal matters.
Noreen later confirmed that she had met Khan but declined to speak to the media, in line with an assurance given before the court. She subsequently left Adiala Jail along with her sisters Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan. Khan also met his wife, Bushra Bibi, with their meeting lasting around 30 to 35 minutes. Earlier, Bushra had met her daughter Mubashra Sheikh and sister-in-law Mehrunnisa.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Aleema Khan welcomed the Supreme Court's decision and expressed happiness over being able to meet her brother. "Words cannot describe how happy I am about the meeting. I cannot even imagine where I would have got sweets from," she said.
She was also asked whether the family had received any indication that circumstances surrounding Khan's incarceration were changing. Aleema said they remained uncertain, although she acknowledged that the court order and the family meeting represented a significant development.
According to the newspaper, Noreen was among three of Khan's sisters who reached the Dahgal checkpoint on the road leading to Adiala Jail after the Supreme Court order. Police initially stopped Aleema, Uzma and Noreen at the checkpoint, but later permitted only Noreen to proceed to the prison.
Supreme Court orders weekly meetings.
The meetings followed a three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed directing the government to facilitate weekly meetings between Khan and his family amid concerns over his health.
The court was hearing petitions relating to Khan's access to his sisters and personal physicians, as well as his medical condition. The order came after a medical board report and a report submitted by the Adiala Jail superintendent recommended more frequent interaction with Khan's immediate family and spouse to help manage his blood pressure and anxiety.
The Supreme Court permitted the meetings on the condition that PTI representatives would refrain from political activity and media engagement after meeting Khan. The party said it would comply with the court's direction.
Justice Waheed emphasised that access to family members should not be treated as a favour, describing such meetings as a fundamental right rather than a concession.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also welcomed the Supreme Court's decision. In a post on X, he said the directions regarding Khan's hospital transfer, medical treatment and access to family members and personal doctors were commendable and should be implemented at the earliest.
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Afridi said official reports indicated that Khan's health had deteriorated during his incarceration and claimed that a decision on his hospital transfer should have been taken earlier. He added that PTI would not politicise Khan's health in accordance with the court's directions and expressed hope that the judiciary would be respected.
Imran Khan, who served as Pakistan's prime minister from 2018 until his removal through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022, has been incarcerated since 2023 following convictions in several cases, including graft and alleged disclosure of official secrets.
Khan and his supporters have consistently maintained that the legal cases against him are politically motivated and intended to prevent his return to politics. Following his ouster, Khan led nationwide protests and accused the government and Pakistan's military establishment of targeting him.
Authorities subsequently launched a crackdown against PTI leaders and supporters, while the party was barred from contesting the 2024 general elections. Khan's supporters continue to allege that the cases are aimed at preventing his political comeback.
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