Tensions escalated outside Adiala Jail on Thursday after senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including National Assembly Opposition Leader Omer Ayub Khan and party spokesperson Niazullah Niazi, were once again denied permission to meet incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan — despite explicit orders from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Addressing the media outside the facility, Omer Ayub accused Punjab police and jail authorities of defying court directives, violating the Constitution, and ignoring standard legal procedures.
“Today, the jail manual and the Constitution have been trampled,” Ayub said. “Despite having a court-approved visitors list, our meeting with the party chairman was obstructed — this is outright contempt of court.”
Ayub claimed the Saddar SP, acting on directives from the Punjab IGP and intelligence agencies, blocked the visit. He further alleged that lower-level jail staff, including Assistant Superintendent Imran Riaz and Head Muharrar Zubair, refused to even acknowledge or receive the court orders.
“The jail staff told us directly that they were instructed not to accept any documents,” he added.
Ayub also alleged mistreatment of Imran Khan’s sisters and reported that senior PTI figures — including Hamid Raza, Shafqat Awan, Tayyaba Raja, and Aliya Hamza — had been detained from near the jail premises.
“Police are acting as if they’re above the law,” Ayub said, issuing a blunt warning to the IHC Chief Justice: “Get your orders implemented — or go home. If your directives mean nothing to these officers, then your position holds no weight.”
Niazullah Niazi, Imran Khan’s legal focal person, echoed Ayub’s frustration. He criticized the Adiala administration for repeatedly ignoring IHC orders, saying the party leadership was scheduled to discuss crucial matters with Khan — including the controversial KP Mines and Minerals Bill — but was deliberately blocked.
“We submitted the visitor list via both fax and post, as instructed by the court,” Niazi stated. “Yet five senior leaders — including Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmed Khan Bhachar — were stopped at the Gorakhpur checkpoint and not allowed to proceed.”
Security was visibly tight around Adiala Jail, with multiple roads sealed off and police deployed from nearby stations including Rawat, Chakri, Chountra, and Dhamial. All vehicles heading toward the jail were subjected to thorough searches.
In a formal letter to the jail superintendent, Omer Ayub accused the administration of consistently violating court rulings and warned that contempt petitions would be filed against officials obstructing access to Khan.
Despite the latest setback, Niazullah Niazi expressed optimism about party unity:
“Our internal differences are behind us. The people of Pakistan stand firmly with Imran Khan.”
